Effects of moderate- and high-intensity acute aerobic exercise on food reward and appetite in individuals with methamphetamine dependence

Drug addiction is characterised by overvaluation of drug-related rewards and undervaluation of “natural”, non-drug-related rewards. Methamphetamine (MA) is the second largest illegally abused drug in the world. Studies have shown that acute aerobic exercise can reduce the incidence of MA-dependent individuals' craving for drug-related cues, but the impact of exercise on food reward in this population has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of moderate and high-intensity acute aerobic exercise on food reward and subjective feelings of appetite in MA-dependent populations. Forty-four men, who met the DSM-V criteria for MA dependence, with BMI of 24.7 ± 3.1 kg/m2 and age of 31.9 ± 3.8 years, were randomly assigned to two exercise training groups: moderate- (n = 22; 65%~75% HRmax) or high- (n = 22; ≥ 85% HRmax) intensity. Each group performed a resting control or exercise session for 35 min, 1wk apart, in a counterbalanced order. Food reward (explicit liking, implicit wanting and relative preference) for high or low fat and sweet or savoury food images was assessed by the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire and subjective feelings of appetite were measured by VAS. Greater relative preference (high: P = .018; moderate: P = .034) and implicit wanting (high: P = .018; moderate: P = .034) for high-fat savoury foods was noted following acute aerobic exercise compared to the control session. Exercise also increased subjective sensations of hunger (F (1,42) =8.28, P = .006). The current study provides the first evidence that acute aerobic exercise can increase reward for high fat savoury foods and stimulate appetite in MA-dependent individuals. In the context of exercise as a therapeutic option for MA dependence, these changes suggest an improvement in responsiveness to natural, non-drug rewards. •Drug addiction is characterised by undervaluation of “natural”, non-drug-related rewards.•Food, a potent natural reward, has been used to evaluate the sensitivity of the reward system in drug abusers.•The impact of exercise on food reward in this population has yet to be established.•Acute aerobic exercise can increase reward for high fat savoury foods and stimulate appetite in MA-dependent individuals.•Acute exercise may improve appetite and food reward in place of the reward for drugs of abuse in this population.