Modifications in dietary self-selection specifically attributable to voluntary wheel running and exercise training in the rat

Abstract

To explore the effects of physical exercise on total caloric intake, body weight gain, and dietary self-selection in rats, female rats of the Dark Agouti strain were placed on macronutrient self-selection. They had free access to running wheels during the whole experimental period. After 16 days of voluntary exercise only, they were trained on a motor-driven treadmill (16 m/min) at the beginning of the dark period. Runtime was progressively increased and reached 3 h per day (plateau). When trained, the rats decreased spontaneous wheel running. Voluntary wheel running did not modify body weight gain. However it increased both carbohydrate and total caloric intakes. Exercise training reduced body weight gain, but did not further modify total caloric intake. Moreover it increased protein and reduced fat intakes. Most of the training-induced modifications were not side effects of fasting during exercise training.