Randomized Trial Examining the Effect of a 12-wk Exercise Program on Hedonic Eating

Non-homeostatic, or hedonic eating can be detrimental to weight control efforts, yet the effect of exercise on hedonic eating is unclear. PURPOSE: This efficacy trial tests the hypothesis that exercise training favorably impacts hedonic eating (i.e., overeating, stress-induced overeating, disinhibited eating, eating when tempted), in a sample of women who are overweight or obese. METHODS: Participants were inactive at baseline, self-identified as ‘stress eaters’, and were randomized to 12 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training (EX; combination of supervised and objectively-confirmed unsupervised sessions) or to a no-exercise control condition (CON). EX participants were given an exercise goal of 200 min/week. No dietary instructions or weight control strategies were provided. Assessments occurred at baseline and 12 weeks. Overeating episodes, stress-induced overeating, and dietary temptations were measured over 14 days at each assessment using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Disinhibition and dietary restraint were assessed via questionnaire. RESULTS: 49 participants (age: 40.4±10.8 years, BMI: 32.4±4.1 kg/m(2)) enrolled, and 39 completed this study. Adherence to the exercise intervention was high (99.4% of all prescribed exercise). At week 12, the proportion of eating episodes that were characterized as overeating episodes was lower in EX vs. CON (21.98% in EX vs. 26.62% in control; p=.001). Disinhibition decreased in EX, but not CON (p=.02), and was driven by internal factors. There was a trend, such that CON was more likely to give into dietary temptations (p=0.08). Stress-induced overeating was low, and did not differ between conditions (p=0.61). CONCLUSION: Exercise training reduced the likelihood of overeating, and eating in response to internal cues, in women who self-identified as stress eaters. This may be one pathway by which exercise impacts body weight.