Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Kinesiology and Physical Education
Faculty/School
Faculty of Science
First Advisor
Dr. Tom Hazell
Advisor Role
Supervisor
Abstract
Post-prandial glucose fluctuations are influential in appetite regulation through suppressive effects on appetite-stimulating hormones while stimulating the release of appetite-inhibiting hormones. Additionally, exercise is capable of eliciting glucose increases suggesting that these exercise-induced elevations in glucose may be a mechanism involved in post-exercise appetite regulation. Insulin fluctuations also reflect alterations in blood glucose and while evidence has yet to suggest the involvement of insulin in appetite regulation, given the interdependent relationship of glucose and insulin it is worth exploring the implications of these effects post-exercise. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the role of post-exercise glucose and insulin on appetite-regulating parameters through a series of paradigms that are believed to alter circulating glucose and insulin concentrations post-exercise. The main findings of this dissertation include:1) transient post-exercise elevations in plasma glucose increases, irrespective of exercise intensity (Study #1) or menstrual phase (Study #2), however appetite-regulating parameters were unaffected post-exercise; 2) insulin was not altered immediately post-exercise, irrespective of exercise intensity or menstrual phase (Studies #1 and #2), suggesting limited or absent involvement of insulin in post-exercise appetite regulation; 3) manipulations to glycogen availability alter plasma glucose and insulin post-prandially (Study #3), however concomitant changes in post-exercise appetite-regulating parameters are absent. Overall, this dissertation is the first to thoroughly examine potential effects of glucose and insulin post-exercise on appetite-regulating parameters indicating that glucose and insulin are uninvolved in appetite regulation following an acute moderate-intensity exercise bout. Although our sprint interval training (SIT) protocol was able to elicit plasma glucose elevations that coincide with acylated ghrelin suppression immediately post exercise, these effects were transient. Further, given the similar plasma glucose responses between moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and SIT exercise but divergent acylated ghrelin responses (SIT suppresses, MICT has no effect) in Studies #1 and #2, along with the absent influence of MICT on glucose and ghrelin following carbohydrate replenishment in Study #3, these results suggest minimal effects of glucose and insulin on post-exercise appetite regulation. Future work is warranted to examine higher-intensity exercise protocols that demonstrate more robust glucose and insulin responses along with greater appetite suppressive effects.
Recommended Citation
Bornath, Derek PD, "The role of blood glucose and insulin in exercise-induced appetite regulation" (2025). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2742.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2742
Convocation Year
2025
Convocation Season
Spring
