Effects of Different Exercises on Energy Metabolism and Muscle Activation in Normal-Weight and Overweight Students

NCT07147985 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025-0505
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of different exercise modalities on energy metabolism and muscle activation in both normal-weight and overweight university students. The main question it aims to answer is: Compared to normal-weight university students, does slow jogging at different step frequencies reduce body weight and increase energy expenditure (and metabolic rate) in overweight university students? Compared to normal-weight university students, does slow jogging at different step frequencies enhance muscle activation effects in overweight university students? Researchers will compare three distinct step frequencies during slow jogging (162, 180, and 198 steps per minute) to determine which exercise modality is potentially more effective for increasing energy expenditure and metabolic rate. Participants will: Participants will sequentially undergo three separate testing sessions, each involving ultra-slow running at one of the three step frequencies (162, 180, or 198 steps per minute). Testing sessions will occur once per week in the laboratory.

Conditions

Energy Expenditure

Keywords

slow jogging; step frequency; energy expenditure; college students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)

  Subjects abstained from strenuous activity, substances (medication/alcohol/caffeine), and smoking 24h pre-test; females avoided menstruation. Post 12h fast/sleep, subjects rested seated 15min. Resting HR measured (Polar RS400). Subjects fitted with cardiopulmonary telemetry (Cortex Metamax 3B), positioned supine. Maintained steady breathing, upward gaze, minimal movement. HR/V̇O₂ monitored until stabilization. 10min data collection; steady state = \<5% V̇O₂ fluctuation over 5min.

  Baseline

• Energy Expenditure at Step Frequencies

  Telemetry/HR monitor worn for 3min warm-up. First test: 10min treadmill run (5 km/h) with HR/V̇O₂ recording. Two subsequent sessions followed. Randomized crossover prevented order effects: subjects drew lots for step frequency sequence (162, 180, 198 steps/min). Metronome ensured adherence.

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

• Heart rate

  Upon entering the laboratory, subjects wore a heart rate telemetry monitor (RS400 Polar, Finland) and rested seated for 15 minutes to obtain resting heart rate. Following warm-up, subjects commenced testing. A heart rate monitor was secured on the right wrist pre-exercise to continuously monitor heart rate during activity.

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

• Electromyographic indicators

  Wireless surface EMG data were acquired using the Trigno system (Delsys®, USA) at 2000 Hz. Electrodes were positioned at the mid-belly of each muscle parallel to the muscle fiber orientation. Signals were recorded from the:Biceps femoris、Rectus femoris、Tibialis anterior、Lateral gastrocnemius、Medial gastrocnemius. EMGworks Analysis® software (Delsys) processed raw signals.

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC)

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

• Fat Oxidation

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

• Carbohydrate Oxidation

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

• RPE

  through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Study Arms (6)

Step frequency group 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 162 steps per minute; Second test: 180 steps per minute; Third test: 198 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Step frequency group 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 162 steps per minute; Second test: 198 steps per minute; Third test: 180 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Step frequency group 3

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 180 steps per minute; Second test: 162 steps per minute; Third test: 198 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Step frequency group 4

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 180 steps per minute; Second test: 198 steps per minute; Third test: 162 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Step frequency group 5

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 198 steps per minute; Second test: 162 steps per minute; Third test: 180 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Step frequency group 6

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 198 steps per minute; Second test: 180 steps per minute; Third test: 162 steps per minute.

Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Interventions

162 step frequency BEHAVIORAL

The exercise protocol lasted 21 minutes, comprising a 10-minute period of slow-pace running, preceded by a 3-minute quiet resting period and a 3-minute warm-up, and followed by a 5-minute recovery period after the warm-up and slow-pace running. 162 steps per minute crossover to 180 steps per minute and 198 steps per minute.

Step frequency group 1; Step frequency group 2; Step frequency group 3; Step frequency group 4; Step frequency group 5; Step frequency group 6

180 step frequency BEHAVIORAL

The exercise protocol lasted 21 minutes, comprising a 10-minute period of slow-pace running, preceded by a 3-minute quiet resting period and a 3-minute warm-up, and followed by a 5-minute recovery period after the warm-up and slow-pace running. 180 steps per minute crossover to 162 steps per minute and 198 steps per minute.

Step frequency group 1; Step frequency group 2; Step frequency group 3; Step frequency group 4; Step frequency group 5; Step frequency group 6

198 step frequency BEHAVIORAL

The exercise protocol lasted 21 minutes, comprising a 10-minute period of slow-pace running, preceded by a 3-minute quiet resting period and a 3-minute warm-up, and followed by a 5-minute recovery period after the warm-up and slow-pace running. 198 steps per minute crossover to 162 steps per minute and 180 steps per minute.

Step frequency group 1; Step frequency group 2; Step frequency group 3; Step frequency group 4; Step frequency group 5; Step frequency group 6

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 23 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 23 years old;
• BMI between 24.0 kg/m² and 27.9 kg/m² ;
• No participation in any structured weight loss or weight control interventions (including exercise programs, pharmacological agents, or dietary regimens) within the preceding three months;
• Cleared for exercise participation with no identified risks, as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q);
• Willing and able to comply fully with the experimental protocol, including completion of all training sessions and required measurements;
• Provision of written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• History of psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, anemia, or any other contraindications to exercise (e.g., dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath);
• Immune dysfunction or severe hepatic or renal insufficiency;
• Unhealthy habits, such as regular smoking or excessive alcohol consumption;
• Current use of prescription medication (excluding contraceptives or incidental short-term medications, if specified and approved by the study investigators);
• Coagulation disorders or a significant bleeding tendency.
• Withdrawal and Termination Criteria:
• Voluntary withdrawal from the study or discontinuation for any other reason;
• Poor compliance, defined as failure to follow instructions or complete assigned tasks as required by the protocol;
• Experiencing severe exercise intolerance or adverse reactions to the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanxi Normal University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Shanxi Normal University

Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030031, China

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2025
• First Posted: August 29, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 15, 2025
• Study Completion: July 21, 2025
• Last Updated: August 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)