How going to the gym can make us gain weight

EXERCISE can end up making us put on weight as we tend to eat more to reward ourselves, a study warns.

After a hard workout, some gym-goers said they would scoff up to a quarter more than usual to make up for their exertions.

They would give themselves bigger portions as they ‘deserve it’ after their calorie-burning sessions.

Some also reward themselves with a chocolate treat after exercise, with women most likely to indulge.

The research at Loughborough University could explain why those who exercise regularly rarely lose a lot of weight despite their efforts.

Although gym or fitness sessions may temporarily suppress appetite, this can be countered when participants treat themselves afterwards.

Lead researcher Dr Lewis James said: ‘Aside from what we eat, a critical factor is how much we eat.

‘The results of the study suggest that knowledge of a future exercise session results in an increase in planned energy intake at a meal after exercise, at least in habitual exercisers.’

For the study, 40 volunteers who exercise at least three times a week were weighed and questioned about their eating habits.

The participants, more than half of whom were women, were asked how much they would eat at lunch on a rest day without exercise or after a morning workout.

The researchers said: ‘Individuals chose a larger portion size, a 24 per cent increase in energy content of food served [after classes].

‘This might reduce any weight loss with chronic exercise training.’

On average, volunteers upped their portions by 150 calories at lunch. Repeating this at dinner would more than outweigh any benefit of their exertions, according to the study in the journal Appetite.

Chocolate consumption was up by 20 per cent, with female volunteers more likely to help themselves to the treat after training than men.

The authors concluded: ‘Typically, there is an initial weight loss, however, after this the rate of weight loss attenuates or weight becomes stable over time.

‘This suggests that exercise might impact meal planning which might account for some of the reasons behind stabilisation of weight loss.’

Famous sporting alumni of Loughborough University, a national centre of sporting excellence, include Lord Coe, Paula Radcliffe and Sir Clive Woodward.