Study Suggests Increased Exercise May Lead to More Laziness Later In The Day

A recent study has found that the more time individuals dedicate to structured exercise routines, like gym workouts or running, the more they tend to reduce other forms of daily physical activities. This decrease in overall physical activity could impact the effectiveness of weight loss efforts, even when adhering to regular exercise programs. The study, published in the journal Current Nutrition Reports, highlights the importance of maintaining non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) — everyday activities such as walking a dog, cycling to work, or standing at a work desk — according to Julie Marvel Mansfeldt, a graduate student at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS).

Mansfeldt further explains that if these everyday activities are abruptly ceased, the total daily energy expenditure becomes lower than anticipated, resulting in less weight loss than expected. She notes that compensating for non-exercise physical activity can consequently become an obstacle to effective weight loss.

Under the guidance of Professor Faidon Magkos at NEXS, University of Copenhagen, Mansfeldt led a systematic review of 24 studies examining people’s daily physical activity levels before and during participation in various structured exercise programs.

The research team discovered that individuals actively involved in regular exercise routines tend to “lounge around” more, often avoiding non-structured physical activities, such as opting for stairs. In an earlier study, this reduction in day-to-day physical activity led to participants losing 22% less weight than predicted from their exercise regimen, as reported in a university press release.

Mansfeldt stated that 67% of the studies observed weight loss results that were lower than expected. This discrepancy wasn’t due to changes in energy intake but was likely attributed to a decrease in non-exercise physical activity (NEPA).

According to the release, exercise is theoretically supposed to create an energy deficit, leading to weight loss. However, Mansfeldt highlighted that in reality, there’s often no direct correlation between the two, and weight loss from exercise frequently falls short of expectations. This suggests the presence of a “compensatory mechanism.” The study proposes that reducing everyday physical activity might serve as a form of physical compensation for individuals who are increasing their training intensity.

People may become more tired after exercising, which can lead to increased lounging and a decrease in other daily physical activities. This could be due to fatigue or as a self-reward for working out.

The study also observed that dietary compensation might happen with increased structured exercise, where individuals tend to eat more after a workout, leading to higher energy (calorie) intake. However, this type of compensation was found to be less frequent. Mansfeldt noted that contrary to common belief, people don’t usually eat more when they start exercising.

This indicates a reduction in non-exercise physical activity, which includes all daily physical movements apart from structured exercise routines.

Furthermore, the study found that those who enjoyed their exercise program were less likely to engage in these compensatory behaviours and generally experienced more significant weight loss than those who had a negative perception of their exercise regimen.

Mansfeldt explained that people’s energy intake varies based on their emotions connected to physical activity. For instance, if individuals don’t enjoy running, they might increase their energy intake afterwards, a form of dietary compensation that could also extend to non-exercise physical activities.

The study also discovered that a reduction in non-exercise physical activity is a common occurrence among both men and women, regardless of their weight range.