EXERCISE INDUCES GUT-TO-BRAIN SIGNALS THAT REDUCE SUGAR CONSUMPTION

The need for interventions that successfully alter dietary behavior is highlighted by the global increase in obesity and excessive sugar consumption. Besides the well-documented role of exercise in the enhancement of metabolic health and reduction in obesity risk, there is growing evidence to suggest that it affects food choices and diminishes intake of highly palatable, sugar-rich diets. How such a shift occurs is incompletely understood. We posited that dietary preference changes induced by exercise are driven by hardwired physiological mechanisms rather than a conscious decision to eat healthier.
Here, we demonstrate that exercise training results in a significant reduction in sugar consumption in both rodents and humans. This effect is mediated by remodeling of gut–brain signaling pathways that normally reinforce sugar intake. In particular, regular exercise modifies metabolite profiles and microbiome composition, leading to increased levels of the incretin glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These peripheral adaptations are sufficient to decrease the dopamine response to sugar in the gastrointestinal tract and to reduce sugar intake.
Taken together, these studies map an exercise-induced gut-brain sensing pathway that reshapes macronutrient preference by selectively diminishing the reward value of sugar.
This work advances our understanding of how peripheral physiological signals regulate feeding behavior and highlights potential biological targets for interventions targeting diet-related diseases.