Hormonal

Medium-term supervised exercise (12 weeks) in overweight/obese individuals increases fasting acylated ghrelin (AG) and subjective hunger, indicating an orexigenic drive, but simultaneously improves postprandial satiety efficiency through enhanced suppression of AG and increased late-phase GLP-1 release.

If you start a moderate-intensity exercise program (like brisk walking or jogging at 75% max heart rate) 5 days a week for 3 months, expect to feel hungrier when you wake up or between meals. This is a normal hormonal response (increased ghrelin). However, this hunger is counterbalanced by your body becoming more efficient at signaling fullness after you eat. Focus on the post-meal satiety benefits rather than fearing the fasting hunger, as this may help you maintain a calorie deficit more sustainably than dieting alone.