There is no significant difference between eating fast food after a workout – in moderation – and eating traditional sports supplements, according to a study by the University of Montana.

While binge eating fast food is not a healthy lifestyle choice – post-workout or not – this data could affect how health clubs, spas and sports facilities approach food and beverage retail at their facilities.

“Our results show that eating fast food – in the right amounts – can provide the same potential for muscle glycogen as sports nutrition products that usually cost more,” said Brent Ruby, director of the University of Montana’s Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism.

Published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, the study’s researchers asked 11 male endurance cyclists to complete two experimental trials in randomised order. Each trial included a 90-minute bike ride, to deplete the athletes’ energy reserves, followed by a four-hour recovery period. Immediately following each ride and again two hours later, researchers provided participants with either sports supplements or fast food – such as hamburgers, fries and hash browns. After the four-hour recovery period, participants completed the second timed cycle ride trial – for 12.4 miles (20km).

Muscle biopsies and blood samples taken in between the two rides showed no differences in blood glucose and insulin responses, according to the study. The rates of energy recovery from the different foods were also not different between the diets. There were also no differences in the time-trial performance between the two diets.