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Nutrition during the early life cycle

Effects of a high-intensity interval training session and chocolate milk on appetite and cognitive performance in youth aged 9–13 years

Abstract

Background/objectives

To investigate the separate and combined effects of a single session of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and chocolate milk on appetite and cognitive performance in youth aged 9–13 years. Blood glucose, salivary cortisol, and subjective emotions were measured to evaluate potential underlying mechanisms contributing to changes in appetite and cognitive performance.

Subjects/methods

Using a 2 × 2 repeated measures design, 20 youth (n = 12 girls and n = 8 boys; age = 11.4 ± 0.3 years) performed HIIT on a cycle ergometer (7 × 60 s bouts, interspersed by 60 s active recovery) or sitting, followed by consumption of 163 kcal chocolate milk or water. Capillary blood glucose, salivary cortisol, cognitive performance, and subjective appetite and emotions were assessed at baseline and at several time points post-treatment.

Results

Subjective appetite decreased from baseline following chocolate milk consumption compared water (p = 0.04), and increased from baseline after HIIT compared to sitting (p = 0.01). Participants recalled more words during a short-term memory task and had faster reaction times during an attention task following HIIT compared to sitting (Δ = 1.1 ± 0.02 words, p = 0.03; and Δ = 117.9 ± 23.1 ms, p = 0.01, respectively). Blood glucose increased from baseline following chocolate milk consumption compared to water (at 10 min: Δ = 1.0 ± 0.33 vs. Δ = 0.29 ± 0.060 mmol/L; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings that HIIT may have a positive effect on aspects of cognitive performance suggest that youth should engage in HIIT-like exercise during recesses and lunch at school to attenuate declines in cognitive performance throughout the day. Registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03305107).

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Change from baseline subjective average appetite (AA) over 90 min.
Fig. 3: Word recall over 90 min.
Fig. 4: Change from baseline 2-back reaction time over 90 min.
Fig. 5: Change from baseline blood glucose over 90 min.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Terence Boateng for his help with the data collection for this study.

Funding

This study was funded by a Ryerson Health Research Fund and Ryerson Faculty of Community Services Seed grant to NB and JTdeZ.

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JTdeZ was responsible for study design, obtaining funding, analyzing the data, interpreting the results, and writing the report; MK was responsible for data collection, analyzing the data, interpreting the results, and contributed to writing the report; NB was responsible for study design, obtaining funding, and providing feedback on the report; CP was responsible for data collection, analyzing the data, and interpreting results; NRB was responsible providing feedback on the report.

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Correspondence to Julia O. Totosy de Zepetnek.

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Kucab, M., Bellissimo, N., Prusky, C. et al. Effects of a high-intensity interval training session and chocolate milk on appetite and cognitive performance in youth aged 9–13 years. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 172–179 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00718-z

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