The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study

<b>Backgrounds and Objectives</b>: Obesity presents a significant global public health challenge and is associated with declines in both general and food-related inhibitory control, crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity progression. An increasing body of researc...

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Main Authors: Chun Xie, Tao Huang, Yingying Wang, Peisi Wang, Yanxia Chen, Jiali Qian, Guozhuang Chen, Kun Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/59
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author Chun Xie
Tao Huang
Yingying Wang
Peisi Wang
Yanxia Chen
Jiali Qian
Guozhuang Chen
Kun Wang
author_facet Chun Xie
Tao Huang
Yingying Wang
Peisi Wang
Yanxia Chen
Jiali Qian
Guozhuang Chen
Kun Wang
author_sort Chun Xie
collection DOAJ
description <b>Backgrounds and Objectives</b>: Obesity presents a significant global public health challenge and is associated with declines in both general and food-related inhibitory control, crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity progression. An increasing body of research suggests that acute aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise on both general and food-related inhibition in obese adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential impacts and underlying neuroelectronic mechanisms of a single session of aerobic exercise at varying intensities on general and food-related inhibitory functions among young adult males with obesity. <b>Design</b>: A within-subject design comprising three sessions (control, low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise) × three picture types (high-calorie food, low-calorie food, neutral picture) was employed. <b>Methods</b>: Eighteen young adult males with obesity [body mass index (BMI): 34.60 ± 4.21 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, aged 24.50 ± 5.13 years (Mean ± SD)] were recruited. They participated in three intervention sessions: acute aerobic exercise at low [40–50% maximal Heart Rate (HR<sub>max</sub>)], moderate (65–70% HR<sub>max</sub>), and a control session (sitting rest), separated by five-day intervals in a counterbalanced order. Following each session, participants performed a food-related Go/No-go task, and EEG recordings (N2 and P3 components) were conducted within 15 min. <b>Results</b>: Moderate-intensity exercise elicited larger N2 amplitudes compared to the control session across different picture types and task conditions. However, there was no significant effect on behavioral indicators or P3 amplitude across sessions. Additionally, food stimuli (both high- and low-calorie) resulted in lower No-go accuracy and smaller N2 amplitudes compared to neutral stimuli. <b>Conclusions</b>: Acute moderate-intensity exercise might influence general and food-related inhibitory function in obese individuals at the neuroelectric stage, potentially by enhancing attentional resources for managing cognitive control and conflict detection. Moreover, reduced N2 amplitudes and No-go accuracy in response to food stimuli compared to non-food stimuli indicate a diminished ability to allocate attentional and neural resources to manage food-related conflicts. However, due to the relatively small sample size, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to the broader population. The pilot test indicated that obese participants had difficulty sustaining high-intensity exercise at 80–90% of their maximum heart rate for a continuous or 20 min period, highlighting potential challenges in exercise adherence at high intensities within this population. Future research is needed to utilize interdisciplinary approaches and multimodal technologies to clarify how exercise influences food-related cognition, appetite regulation, and brain mechanisms in obesity, aiming to better contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity.
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spelling doaj-art-0357ab6453244ac4a8a00b32055c14402025-01-24T13:25:50ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-011515910.3390/brainsci15010059The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) StudyChun Xie0Tao Huang1Yingying Wang2Peisi Wang3Yanxia Chen4Jiali Qian5Guozhuang Chen6Kun Wang7Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China<b>Backgrounds and Objectives</b>: Obesity presents a significant global public health challenge and is associated with declines in both general and food-related inhibitory control, crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity progression. An increasing body of research suggests that acute aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise on both general and food-related inhibition in obese adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential impacts and underlying neuroelectronic mechanisms of a single session of aerobic exercise at varying intensities on general and food-related inhibitory functions among young adult males with obesity. <b>Design</b>: A within-subject design comprising three sessions (control, low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise) × three picture types (high-calorie food, low-calorie food, neutral picture) was employed. <b>Methods</b>: Eighteen young adult males with obesity [body mass index (BMI): 34.60 ± 4.21 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, aged 24.50 ± 5.13 years (Mean ± SD)] were recruited. They participated in three intervention sessions: acute aerobic exercise at low [40–50% maximal Heart Rate (HR<sub>max</sub>)], moderate (65–70% HR<sub>max</sub>), and a control session (sitting rest), separated by five-day intervals in a counterbalanced order. Following each session, participants performed a food-related Go/No-go task, and EEG recordings (N2 and P3 components) were conducted within 15 min. <b>Results</b>: Moderate-intensity exercise elicited larger N2 amplitudes compared to the control session across different picture types and task conditions. However, there was no significant effect on behavioral indicators or P3 amplitude across sessions. Additionally, food stimuli (both high- and low-calorie) resulted in lower No-go accuracy and smaller N2 amplitudes compared to neutral stimuli. <b>Conclusions</b>: Acute moderate-intensity exercise might influence general and food-related inhibitory function in obese individuals at the neuroelectric stage, potentially by enhancing attentional resources for managing cognitive control and conflict detection. Moreover, reduced N2 amplitudes and No-go accuracy in response to food stimuli compared to non-food stimuli indicate a diminished ability to allocate attentional and neural resources to manage food-related conflicts. However, due to the relatively small sample size, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to the broader population. The pilot test indicated that obese participants had difficulty sustaining high-intensity exercise at 80–90% of their maximum heart rate for a continuous or 20 min period, highlighting potential challenges in exercise adherence at high intensities within this population. Future research is needed to utilize interdisciplinary approaches and multimodal technologies to clarify how exercise influences food-related cognition, appetite regulation, and brain mechanisms in obesity, aiming to better contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/59obesityacute aerobic exerciseinhibitory functionfoodN2P3
spellingShingle Chun Xie
Tao Huang
Yingying Wang
Peisi Wang
Yanxia Chen
Jiali Qian
Guozhuang Chen
Kun Wang
The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
Brain Sciences
obesity
acute aerobic exercise
inhibitory function
food
N2
P3
title The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
title_full The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
title_fullStr The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
title_short The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study
title_sort impact of acute aerobic exercise on general and food related inhibitory function among young adults with obesity an event related potential erp study
topic obesity
acute aerobic exercise
inhibitory function
food
N2
P3
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/59
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