New research from the University of Campinas in Brazil has found that exercise restores the sensitivity of the neurons responsible for satiety, contributing to reduced food intake and therefore weightloss.

The group, led by José Barreto C. Carvalheira, demonstrated that exercising obese rodents showed signals of restored satiety in hypothalamic neurons and decreased food intake.

Carvalheira said: "In obese animals, exercise increased IL-6 and IL-10 protein levels in the hypothalamus, and these molecules were crucial for increasing the sensitivity of the most important hormones, insulin and leptin, which control appetite."

Physical activity contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity, not only by increasing energy expenditure but also by modulating the signals of satiety and reducing food intake.

The findings are to be published in the Public Library of Science Access journal.