Abstract
This investigation explored the influence of a single bout of planned intense exercise on food choices (calories and macronutrients) in a controlled laboratory setting, in normal-weight school-age children. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022) reports that 1 in 5 children have obesity. Yet, research on the effect of exercise on children is limited. Studies often lack controls for environmental, social, or behavioral influences that may impact food choices. Also, studies often provide limited food options to identify macronutrient choices. (Donnelley et al., 2014) (Fearnbach, et al., 2016) (Kristina, et al., 2021) (Noll, et al., 2017).
A quasi-experimental single-group repeated-measures design was used to compare food choices after intense exercise and after being sedentary in the laboratory setting. After prescreening/fitness testing, 30 normal weight junior high children participated in an exercise and a sedentary intervention in random order. After each intervention session subjects ate lunch from the same large buffet-type meal.
The data showed that, fat consumption at the buffet meal increased in the exercising group (p=0.0373). However, once macronutrient intake was adjusted for the total changes in caloric intake no significant differences were found between groups. When looking at just their first intervention day, results showed a statistically significant increase in fat intake in the exercising subjects for calories (p= 0.001) and for percentages (p= 0.007) of fat intake. Sedentary subjects showed a significant increase in the percentage of carbohydrate intake at the first exposure to the buffet meal (p= 0.034). Exercising subjects ate significantly more calories (p= 0.046). Yet, when looking at the second intervention days, there were no significant differences in intake patterns between the two groups.
Children who were exercised or sedentary, showed significant differences in caloric and macronutrient changes upon first exposure to the buffet meal. Previous exposure to the buffet may override natural physiologic drives toward food selections. Further studies with adolescents in controlled laboratory settings controlling for behavioral and environmental variables is warranted. With a clearer understanding of what macronutrients would naturally be ingested based on an individual’s activity level, we may enhance our understanding of the needs of children who exercise. This may also lead to improvement of obesity-prevention programs.
Notes
References:
Donnelly, J. E., Herrmann, S. D., Lambourne, K., Szabo, A. N., Honas, J. J. & Washburn, R. A. (2014). Does increased exercise or physical activity alter ad-libitum daily energy intake or macronutrient composition in healthy adults? A systematicreview. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e83498. Published online 2014 Jan 15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083498.
Fearnbach, S. N., Masterson, T. D., Schlechter, H. A., Ross, A. J., Rykaczewski, M. J., Loken, E., Downs, D. S., Thivel, D., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Impact of imposed exercise on energy intake in children at risk for overweight. Nutrition Journal; 15: 92. Published online 2016 October 21. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0206-5.
Malsgova, K., Kopylov, A., Sinitsyna, A., Stepanov, A., Izotov, A., Butkova, T., Konstantin, C.,Klyuchnikov, M., Kaysheva, A., (2021) Sports nutrition: diets, selection factors, recommendations. Nutrients, 13(11):3771. http://doi: 10.3390/nu13113771.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (2022, March 24). Childhood obesity. NIH Health Site. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight- and-obesity/childhood-obesity.
Noll, M., Rodrigues de Mendonça, C., Pereira de Souza Rosa, L. & Silveira, E. A. (2017). Determinants of eating patterns and nutrient intake among adolescentathletes: a systematic review. Nutrition Journal. 16:46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-017-0267-0.
Sigma Membership
Iota Eta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Primary Care, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Exercise, School-Age Children
Recommended Citation
Holt, Carol Frances; Cooper, Dan; Van Servellen, Gwen; Doering, Lynn; and Pontello, Andria, "Investigation of the Influences of Planned Exercise on Food Choices in School-Age Children" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 95.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/95
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Funder(s)
National Institute of Health
Investigation of the Influences of Planned Exercise on Food Choices in School-Age Children
Seattle, Washington, USA
This investigation explored the influence of a single bout of planned intense exercise on food choices (calories and macronutrients) in a controlled laboratory setting, in normal-weight school-age children. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022) reports that 1 in 5 children have obesity. Yet, research on the effect of exercise on children is limited. Studies often lack controls for environmental, social, or behavioral influences that may impact food choices. Also, studies often provide limited food options to identify macronutrient choices. (Donnelley et al., 2014) (Fearnbach, et al., 2016) (Kristina, et al., 2021) (Noll, et al., 2017).
A quasi-experimental single-group repeated-measures design was used to compare food choices after intense exercise and after being sedentary in the laboratory setting. After prescreening/fitness testing, 30 normal weight junior high children participated in an exercise and a sedentary intervention in random order. After each intervention session subjects ate lunch from the same large buffet-type meal.
The data showed that, fat consumption at the buffet meal increased in the exercising group (p=0.0373). However, once macronutrient intake was adjusted for the total changes in caloric intake no significant differences were found between groups. When looking at just their first intervention day, results showed a statistically significant increase in fat intake in the exercising subjects for calories (p= 0.001) and for percentages (p= 0.007) of fat intake. Sedentary subjects showed a significant increase in the percentage of carbohydrate intake at the first exposure to the buffet meal (p= 0.034). Exercising subjects ate significantly more calories (p= 0.046). Yet, when looking at the second intervention days, there were no significant differences in intake patterns between the two groups.
Children who were exercised or sedentary, showed significant differences in caloric and macronutrient changes upon first exposure to the buffet meal. Previous exposure to the buffet may override natural physiologic drives toward food selections. Further studies with adolescents in controlled laboratory settings controlling for behavioral and environmental variables is warranted. With a clearer understanding of what macronutrients would naturally be ingested based on an individual’s activity level, we may enhance our understanding of the needs of children who exercise. This may also lead to improvement of obesity-prevention programs.
Description
This interventional laboratory study explored the influence of exercise on food choices (calories and macronutrients), in adolescents. Exercisers ate a greater percentage of their calories from fat as compared to the sedentary subjects who selected more carbohydrates, but only at the first exposure to a buffet meal. Exercise may stimulate alterations in macronutrient preferences. However, the relationship between food choices and exercise might be easily overridden by volitional control.
This investigation was supported by the Public Health Service research grant Mo1 RR00827 from the National Center for Research Resources through the National Institute of Health (NIH)