Fig. 3.

Feeding behavior in male and female Wistar rats with and without exercise. Intake (A), meal size (B), and meal frequency (C) over 24 h. Exercise differentially affected 24-h food intake in males and females. Intake (D), meal size (E), and meal frequency (F) during the dark cycle (D; 10 h). Exercising male rats decreased food intake during the dark cycle through a decrease in meal frequency. Intake (G), meal size (H), and meal frequency (I) during the light cycle (L; 14 h). Exercise in female rats increased food intake during the light cycle through an increase in meal size and frequency. P < 0.05, ^main effect of sex, +main effect of activity, #sex by activity interaction, §post hoc simple effect. SED; sedentary, EX; exercised.