Researchers compared the effects of overeating on people who took regular exercise and an inactive group of people.
Researchers compared the effects of overeating on people who took regular exercise and an inactive group of people.
Both groups were instructed to decrease the number of steps they took each day from the recommended 10,000 to fewer than 4,000. When overeating, those not exercising consumed 50% more calories than previously and the exercising group increased by 75% to compensate for the energy burned during treadmill training.
After only a week, the inactive group showed an unhealthy decline in blood glucose control, and fat cell genetic changes that may contribute to unhealthy metabolism. Daily exercise, despite similar energy surplus, blunted many of these effects.
Stuart Egginton, Professor of Exercise Science, said: “Research within Sport and Exercise Sciences explores the physiological and psychological benefits of exercise across the whole spectrum from the elite athletes to patients with poor mobility.
“While a lot of publicity has been generated by studies suggesting very small amounts of intense activity may offer significant benefits, we are exploring the nature of different exercise protocols in order to optimise compliance and target individuals appropriately. The debate about what type of exercise, and how much we need to undertake, will continue. But the take-home message is that the insistence of previous generations to ‘get out and do something’, especially after a large meal, is still good advice.”
19th December 2013