Tougher Workouts May Mean Smaller Meals

Typically, the standard rules for losing weight follow along the lines of, "Exercise and eat right," but it turns out the type of exercise might be a big factor in losing weight.

Reuters reports that a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that when overweight men worked out in more strenuous ways, they tended to eat less.

The researchers at University of Western Australia surveyed 17 overweight men and had them participate in four different exercise sessions, where they cycled at either moderate, high, or very high intensities. The moderate exercise only had continuous cycling, while the others included short bursts of speed or long stretches of pedaling at lower speed.

After each exercise routine, the men were given a liquid meal of 267 calories. An hour later, the participants were given oatmeal and asked to eat until they were "comfortably full."

Overall, men at 764 calories after resting; they at 710 calories after the moderate exercise, 621 calories after a slightly more difficult workout, and 594 calories after the most difficult workout.

Of course, with such a small sample size, the results are not entirely conclusive and need to be replicated elsewhere. And while past studies have not found a link between exercise and food intake, one researcher points out that "most of the research that's been done is in normal weight or healthy weight individuals," David Stensel told Reuters Health. This study in particular looked for overweight participants, which may make a difference.