Intense exercise can prompt cravings for a range of different foods depending on what type of exercise you do, according to research by Britain’s leading sports scientist.

Dr David Stensel of Loughborough University’s School of Sport & Exercise has recently completed research into what effect various types of demanding physical activity have on appetite during and after the meal.

And he found that the effect on appetite of various physical activities are linked to their physical requirements.

A hormone that plays a major role in preventing people getting fat may also help guard against Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests.

Leptin, which was only discovered back in 1994, helps regulate people’s appetite and gives them signals that tell them they are “full”, stopping them from over-eating.

Studies have shown that obese people tend to have lower levels of leptin or are resistant to it in much the same way diabetics are resistant to insulin.