# Neural Pathways Linking Autonomous Exercise Motivation and Exercise-Induced Unhealthy Eating: A Resting-State fMRI Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that brain activity in certain regions is linked to exercise motivation and reduced unhealthy eating after workouts.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific neural pathways connecting autonomous exercise motivation to reduced post-exercise unhealthy eating.

## Key findings

- Autonomous exercise motivation is associated with brain activity in the cerebellum posterior lobe, middle frontal gyrus, and middle occipital gyrus.
- Higher motivation indirectly reduces unhealthy eating through enhanced activity in the middle frontal gyrus and connectivity between cerebellum posterior lobe and middle occipital gyrus.
- Neural mechanisms related to conflict awareness and motor control may protect against post-exercise unhealthy eating.

## Abstract

Background: Unhealthy food compensation following exercise contributes to the failure of exercise for weight loss. Autonomous exercise motivation is a protective factor against exercise-induced unhealthy foods licensing (EUFL). However, the neural mechanism of exercise-specific autonomous motivation and how these neural correlates link to EUFL remain uncertain. Methods: This study explored the resting-state brain activity (i.e., amplitude or fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF/fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo)) and seed-based functional connectivity (rsFC) of autonomous exercise motivation among 223 (72.3% female) healthy young adults. Autonomous exercise motivation and EUFL were measured by self-report measurements. Results: Results across resting-state indices and rsFC analysis show that autonomous exercise motivation was robustly associated with activity and connectivity within the cerebellum posterior lobe (PCB), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and middle occipital gyrus (MOG). Specifically, the PCB acted as a hub, connecting the frontal and occipital lobes. Moreover, higher autonomous exercise motivation indirectly predicts reduced EUFL through enhanced activity in the MFG and connectivity of PCB–MOG. Conclusions: Neural substrate for enhanced conflict awareness and motor control may explain the protective effect of autonomous exercise motivation on post-exercise unhealthy eating. Enhancement of these functions could help regulate post-exercise eating and improve the effectiveness of exercise for weight loss.