While hunger suppressants such as Ozempic are all the rage for weight loss, a new study on exercise suggests that physical activity may be better than prescription drugs, especially for women. Here’s why:
The active ingredients in Ozempic, such as semaglutide, can help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight by suppressing their appetite, but for patients who don’t qualify for prescription drugs, intense exercise can help reduce hunger. That’s what new research suggests. Reduces levels of the “hunger hormone” known as ghrelin.
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How was the research conducted?
Eight men and six women fasted overnight and then trained at varying levels of intensity the next day. Subjects were then asked to observe and note their feelings of hunger in relation to their exercise level.
What were the results?
Researchers noticed that women who started the study with higher total levels of ghrelin compared to men had significantly lower levels of hunger after intense exercise. “We found that high-intensity exercise suppressed ghrelin levels more than moderate-intensity exercise,” the study’s first author commented. Dr. Kara Anderson of the University of Virginia and University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia; “We also found that people felt ‘less hungry’ after high-intensity exercise compared to moderate-intensity exercise.”
But why did only women benefit from reduced ghrelin levels after intense exercise, and men not? The researchers hope that future studies, perhaps with larger samples of participants, will benefit from reduced ghrelin levels after intense exercise. I would like to answer that question. Of course, high-intensity exercise burns calories for both men and women, so it’s a win-win for both.
“Exercise should be thought of as a ‘drug,’ and its ‘dosage’ should be customized based on an individual’s personal goals,” Anderson says. “Our study suggests that high-intensity exercise may be important in suppressing appetite, which is particularly useful as part of a weight loss program.”
Why is intense exercise more beneficial than Ozempic?
A recent paper published in The Lancet found that drugs like Ozempic, while effective for weight loss, can cause muscle loss of as much as 25 to 39 percent over 36 to 72 weeks. Intense exercise, on the other hand, involves an increase in muscle mass, which can provide benefits such as increased strength, increased range of motion, and injury prevention in addition to weight loss goals. For healthy women (and men) who need a reason to do extra reps, science can give you all the encouragement you need.
