Effect of acute dietary- versus combined dietary and exercise-induced energy deficits on subsequent energy intake, appetite and food reward in adolescents with obesity

•An acute mixed deficit did not generate appetite compensation in obese adolescents.•A dietary deficit generated a lower ad libitum food intake in obese adolescents.•A mixed deficit mays improve satiety and preserve muscle mass in long-term.•A mixed deficit is a good strategy to create a transient negative energy balance. Acute dietary-induced energy deficits have been shown to favor compensatory appetitive responses. The aim of this study was to compare energy intake (EI), appetite sensations and the hedonic responses to equivalent energy deficits induced by dietary restriction alone and combined with exercise in adolescents with obesity. In a within-subjects design, seventeen adolescents with obesity (12–16 years, Tanner stage 3–5, 6 males) randomly completed three 14 h conditions: (i) control (CON); (ii) deficit induced by diet only (Def-EI) and; (iii) deficit induced by combined diet and physical exercise (Def-mixed). Breakfast and lunch were calibrated to generate a 500 kcal deficit in Def-EI and 250 kcal deficit in Def-mixed. A 250 kcal deficit was created through a cycling exercise set at 65% VO2peak in Def-mixed. Ad libitum EI, macronutrients and relative EI (REI) were assessed at dinner, subjective appetite sensations taken at regular intervals, and food reward measured before dinner. EI at dinner was significantly lower in Def-EI compared to CON (p = 0.014; Effect size (ES): -0.59 [-1.07; -0.12]), with no difference between Def-mixed and both CON and Def-EI. Total REI was lower in both deficit conditions compared with CON (Def-mixed: p