The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein exhaust gas produced by the internal combustion engine is returned to the internal combustion engine via an exhaust gas recirculation device, which comprises at least two cooling units with each of which a bypass is associated, the exhaust gas being cooled in the exhaust gas recirculation device as a function of the load state of the internal combustion engine, and wherein fresh air is fed to the internal combustion engine via a charge-air feed device, which comprises at least one cooling unit and at least one bypass connected in parallel to the cooling unit, the fresh air being supplied via the cooling unit and/or the bypass as a function of the load state. The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas recirculation device and a charge-air feed device.