Novel Role of Exercise Timing in Obesity

NCT05030636 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CERC-20-049-P
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main objective of this research project is to assess the impact of the timing of exercise on sensory perception, more specifically on taste and smell. Also, the investigators want to identify the optimal exercise timing scenario that maximizes the short-term anorexigenic effect of exercise (i.e. decrease in energy intake at the meal following the exercise session) in each group of teenagers. Hypothesis: exercise immediately before a meal (EX-\>MEAL) will be the most efficient scenario, and will show a larger impact on males individuals and people who suffer obesity. Subsequently, the investigators want to understand the impacts of exercise on lifestyle habits (i.e. sleep and sedentariness). For the realization of this research project, the investigators plan to recruit approximately 144 participants, boys and girls with normal weight/obesity, aged 12 to 17 years. Of these participants, half will be male. There are two different exercise timings (i.e. performed at 9:30 am and 11:00 am using a treadmill to test the maximal aerobic capacity) and one sedentary control condition. Participants will take part in 3 experimental visits in a random order (\~5 hours/visit at LAPS-UdeM + 24h of real-life monitoring). Appetite sensations, energy intake (i.e. total and macronutrient), activity monitoring using actigraphy, hormonal (i.e. anorexigenic and orexigenic) and chemosensory (i.e. cortical response to taste and smell stimulations) response will be monitored in the laboratory and/or remotely. This project will measure acute response in laboratory and real-life settings.

Conditions

Obesity, Adolescent; Exercise Timing in Obesity

Keywords

Teenagers; Exercise; Nutrition; Appetite

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Energy intake at lunch

  Obtained using an ad libitum meal

  30 minutes

• Physical activity habits outside the laboratory

  Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

  24 hours

• Eating habits outside the laboratory

  Ambulatory monitoring of food provided that is eaten (kcal total)

  24 hours

• Sedentary activity habits outside the laboratory

  Time spent in sedentary activities

  24 hours

• Sleep activity habits outside the laboratory

  Time spent sleeping at night

  24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Chemosensory response - Taste

  Within the 30 minutes devoted to chemosensory testing, prior to the meal at noon.

• Circulating concentration of PYY

  Within the 30 minutes devoted to chemosensory testing, prior to the meal at noon.

• Chemosensory response - Smell

  Within the 30 minutes devoted to chemosensory testing, prior to the meal at noon, and in the 2 hour period following meal.

• Circulating concentration of GLP1

  Within the 30 minutes devoted to chemosensory testing, prior to the meal at noon, and in the 2 hour period following meal.

• Circulating levels of ghrelin

  Within the 30 minutes devoted to chemosensory testing, prior to the meal at noon, and in the 2 hour period following meal.

Study Arms (3)

EX starts at 9:30 am

EXPERIMENTAL

A warm-up, 30 min at 70% VO2 max and a cool-down performed at 9:30 am.

Procedure: Acute moderate to vigorous exercise performed at a specific moment of the day

EX starts at 11:00 am

EXPERIMENTAL

A warm-up, 30 min at 70% VO2 max and a cool-down performed at 11:00 am.

Procedure: Acute moderate to vigorous exercise performed at a specific moment of the day

No EX

NO INTERVENTION

Control condition. A choice of 30 minutes sedentary activities.

Interventions

Acute moderate to vigorous exercise performed at a specific moment of the day PROCEDURE

Treadmill (30 minutes) at 70% of maximal aerobic capacity

EX starts at 11:00 am; EX starts at 9:30 am

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• must be 12-17 years old to ensure proper compliance with the study protocol and similar daily routines (i.e. attend high school);
• have normal weight or obesity according to World Health Organisation criteria

You may not qualify if:

• follow a specific diet or have food allergies;
• have an eating disorder (e.g. anorexia or bulimia);
• have a metabolic disease, are taking supplements or use medication that could influence the study results (e.g. insulin, lipid lowering drugs, corticosteroids);
• are vegetarian or vegan, who cannot eat our validated meals which contain protein from animal sources;
• have any intestinal disorders;
• have physical limitations that restrict them from participating in our EX program;
• are involved in competitive sports;
• are not able to read or speak either French or English;
• currently has COVID-19 or do not agree to respect sanitary measures during the visits; or,
• smoke or use drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université de Montréal: lead
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Université de Montréal

Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obesity; Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Marie-Ève Mathieu, Principal investigator

Model Details: Testing for each participant will comprise of 5 visits (1 preliminary and 4 experimental) conducted over a 5-8 week period at the LAPS-UdeM laboratory \[Laboratoire activité physique et santé (LAPS), Université de Montréal (UdeM), Montreal, Canada\]. Each participant will be assigned to the 3 different conditions in a random order. Each session will begin with 1 standard validated meal (breakfast) at 8:00 am, followed by 1 EX session (warm-up + 30 min @ 70% VO2 max + cool-down), performed at 9:30 am or 11:00 am, or no EX (30 min sedentary; Control).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 20, 2021
• First Posted: September 1, 2021
• Study Start: September 15, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2025
• Study Completion: April 30, 2025
• Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

CA (1)