Effects of Exercise on Fat and Carbohydrate Use After Eating
Author Information
Author(s): Wiley Long, Katherine Wells, Virginia Englert, Stacy Schmidt, Matthew S Hickey, Christopher L Melby
Primary Institution: Colorado State University
Hypothesis
Does prior acute exercise affect postexercise substrate oxidation in response to a high carbohydrate meal?
Conclusion
Prior exercise increases plasma NEFA concentrations, but consuming a carbohydrate-rich meal immediately after exercise leads to a rapid decrease in these concentrations and does not enhance fat oxidation.
Supporting Evidence
- Plasma NEFA concentrations were higher after exercise compared to no exercise.
- Carbohydrate oxidation increased rapidly after meal consumption.
- Fat oxidation did not differ between exercise and no exercise conditions during recovery.
Takeaway
When you exercise and then eat a lot of carbs, your body quickly switches from burning fat to burning sugar, even if you had a lot of fat in your blood from exercising.
Methodology
Six healthy young subjects completed three treatments: exercise followed by a carbohydrate meal, exercise followed by a placebo, and no exercise followed by a carbohydrate meal, with blood samples taken to measure glucose, insulin, and NEFA.
Potential Biases
None reported.
Limitations
Small sample size and potential gender differences not fully explored.
Participant Demographics
Six healthy, physically active young subjects (4 males, 2 females) with an average age of 26.3 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
null
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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