Effects of Exercise Snacks on Clinical and Health Outcomes

NCT07609290 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CMMC11502-004
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior are major health concerns, especially for individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes and prediabetes. Many patients have difficulty following traditional exercise recommendations due to time constraints, limited physical capacity, comorbidities, or lack of access to exercise facilities. Therefore, new and more practical exercise strategies are needed. "Exercise Snacks" is a novel physical activity approach that involves short bouts of exercise performed multiple times throughout the day. Each session is brief and easy to integrate into daily life, such as performing short periods of resistance exercises, brisk walking, stair climbing, or other simple activities. This approach may improve exercise adherence and provide health benefits without requiring long exercise sessions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an Exercise Snacks intervention in sedentary adults with diabetes or prediabetes and to explore its potential effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health, physical function, and body composition. In this study, sedentary adults aged 18-65 years with diabetes or prediabetes will participate in a 12-week study and will be randomly assigned to either an Exercise Snacks group or a control group. Participants in the Exercise Snacks group will perform short exercise sessions lasting approximately 3-5 minutes, including simple resistance exercises and short aerobic activities. These exercise sessions will be performed several times per day and integrated into daily routines. The control group will maintain their usual lifestyle without additional exercise intervention. Participants may use wearable devices or mobile applications to receive reminders and record exercise activity. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention to evaluate physical activity adherence, physical function, body composition, blood pressure, blood glucose, and other cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators. This study aims to determine whether short, frequent exercise sessions are a practical and effective alternative to traditional exercise recommendations for sedentary individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. The results of this study may help develop more feasible lifestyle intervention strategies to improve long-term exercise adherence and overall health in individuals with chronic diseases.

Conditions

Prediabetes / Type 2 Diabetes; Sedentary Behaviors; Physical Inactivity

Keywords

Exercise Snacks; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Diabetes; Prediabetes; Cardiovascular metabolism

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility and acceptability of the Exercise Snacks intervention

  Feasibility and acceptability will be evaluated based on participant adherence, completion of the intervention, and participant-reported questionnaires assessing convenience, satisfaction, and willingness to continue the intervention. Additionally, adherence and satisfaction will be quantified using standardized indicators, with higher scores indicating better adherence and greater satisfaction and acceptability. The questionnaire will be assessed using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), e.g., assessed using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale, EARS with items 2, 3, 4, and 6 being reverse-scored.

  Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Change in physical function assessed by the 3-Minute Step Test

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in body weight (kg)

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in body mass index (BMI)

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in body fat percentage (%)

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in muscle mass (kg)

  Baseline to 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Exercise Snacks Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the Exercise Snacks group will perform short bouts of exercise multiple times throughout the day for 12 weeks. Each exercise session will last approximately 3-5 minutes and will include simple resistance exercises (such as squats, split squats, resistance band exercises, and curl-ups) and short aerobic activities (such as brisk walking, stair climbing, running in place, or jumping jacks). Participants will be encouraged to perform at least 3-4 exercise sessions per day and integrate these activities into their daily routine. Exercise intensity and duration will be adjusted according to individual physical capacity. Wearable devices or mobile applications may be used to provide reminders and record exercise adherence.

Behavioral: Exercise Snacks

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the control group will maintain their usual lifestyle and physical activity habits during the 12-week study period and will not receive the Exercise Snacks intervention. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the study period.

Interventions

Exercise Snacks BEHAVIORAL

The Exercise Snacks intervention consists of short bouts of physical activity performed multiple times throughout the day. Each exercise session lasts approximately 3 to 5 minutes and includes simple resistance exercises and short aerobic activities. Resistance exercises may include squats, split squats, resistance band exercises, and curl-ups, while aerobic activities may include brisk walking, stair climbing, running in place, or jumping jacks. Participants will be encouraged to perform at least 3 to 4 exercise sessions per day and integrate these short exercise sessions into their daily routines. Exercise intensity and exercise type will be adjusted according to individual physical capacity and safety considerations. The intervention will be conducted over a 12-week period. Wearable devices or mobile applications may be used to provide exercise reminders, monitor adherence, and record physical activity.

Also known as: Intermittent Physical Activity, Short-bout Exercise, Physical Activity Snacks

Exercise Snacks Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 to 65 years.
• Diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%) or prediabetes (HbA1c ≥ 5.7%).
• Engaging in less than 1 hour of physical activity per week in the past 3 months, assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
• Sedentary behavior defined as sitting for ≥ 6 hours per day or walking fewer than 5,000 steps per day on average.
• Able to use a smartphone and operate related mobile applications.
• Able to provide informed consent and willing to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• History of heart disease, kidney disease, pregnancy, cancer, lower limb joint disease, or psychiatric disorders.
• Musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that limit independent physical activity or exercise.
• Acute or terminal illness that may affect participation in the study, such as ongoing cancer treatment, acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, or receiving palliative care.
• Unstable or uncontrolled cardiovascular, metabolic, or respiratory diseases, such as unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg), heart failure, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or acute exacerbation of respiratory disease.
• Presence of metal implants in the body.
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m².
• Unable to use a smartphone or mobile applications.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chimei Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

ChiMei Medical Center

Tainan, Yongkang Dist, 71004, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (17)

• Francois ME, Baldi JC, Manning PJ, Lucas SJ, Hawley JA, Williams MJ, Cotter JD. 'Exercise snacks' before meals: a novel strategy to improve glycaemic control in individuals with insulin resistance. Diabetologia. 2014 Jul;57(7):1437-45. doi: 10.1007/s00125-014-3244-6. Epub 2014 May 10.

  PMID: 24817675 BACKGROUND

• Jenkins EM, Nairn LN, Skelly LE, Little JP, Gibala MJ. Do stair climbing exercise "snacks" improve cardiorespiratory fitness? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2019 Jun;44(6):681-684. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0675. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

  PMID: 30649897 BACKGROUND

• Islam H, Gibala MJ, Little JP. Exercise Snacks: A Novel Strategy to Improve Cardiometabolic Health. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2022 Jan 1;50(1):31-37. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000275.

  PMID: 34669625 BACKGROUND

• Tyldesley-Marshall N, Greenfield SM, Parretti HM, Gokal K, Greaves C, Jolly K, Maddison R, Daley AJ; Snacktivity Study Team. Snacktivity to Promote Physical Activity: a Qualitative Study. Int J Behav Med. 2022 Oct;29(5):553-564. doi: 10.1007/s12529-021-10040-y. Epub 2021 Nov 15.

  PMID: 34782996 BACKGROUND

• Jansons P, Fyfe JJ, Dalla Via J, Daly RM, Scott D. Barriers and enablers associated with participation in a home-based pragmatic exercise snacking program in older adults delivered and monitored by Amazon Alexa: a qualitative study. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Mar;35(3):561-569. doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02327-1. Epub 2023 Jan 17.

  PMID: 36648746 BACKGROUND

• Jenkins DG, Devin JL, Weston KL, Jenkins JG, Skinner TL. Benefits beyond cardiometabolic health: the potential of frequent high intensity 'exercise snacks' to improve outcomes for those living with and beyond cancer. J Physiol. 2023 Nov;601(21):4691-4697. doi: 10.1113/JP284985. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

  PMID: 37732418 BACKGROUND

• Perkin OJ, McGuigan PM, Stokes KA. Exercise Snacking to Improve Muscle Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Pilot Study. J Aging Res. 2019 Oct 3;2019:7516939. doi: 10.1155/2019/7516939. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 31687210 BACKGROUND

• Fyfe JJ, Dalla Via J, Jansons P, Scott D, Daly RM. Feasibility and acceptability of a remotely delivered, home-based, pragmatic resistance 'exercise snacking' intervention in community-dwelling older adults: a pilot randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatr. 2022 Jun 25;22(1):521. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03207-z.

  PMID: 35751032 BACKGROUND

• Stawarz K, Liang IJ, Alexander L, Carlin A, Wijekoon A, Western MJ. Exploring the Potential of Technology to Promote Exercise Snacking for Older Adults Who Are Prefrail in the Home Setting: User-Centered Design Study. JMIR Aging. 2023 May 24;6:e41810. doi: 10.2196/41810.

  PMID: 37223992 BACKGROUND

• Western MJ, Welsh T, Keen K, Bishop V, Perkin OJ. Exercise snacking to improve physical function in pre-frail older adult memory clinic patients: a 28-day pilot study. BMC Geriatr. 2023 Aug 4;23(1):471. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04169-6.

  PMID: 37542234 BACKGROUND

• Brandt T, Schwandner CTL, Schmidt A. Resistance exercise snacks improve muscle mass in female university employees: a prospective, controlled, intervention pilot-study. Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 6;12:1347825. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347825. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38379679 BACKGROUND

• Stork MJ, Marcotte-Chenard A, Jung ME, Little JP. Exercise in the workplace: examining the receptivity of practical and time-efficient stair-climbing "exercise snacks". Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2024 Jan 1;49(1):30-40. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0128. Epub 2023 Sep 25.

  PMID: 37748202 BACKGROUND

• Yin M, Deng S, Chen Z, Zhang B, Zheng H, Bai M, Li H, Zhang X, Deng J, Liu Q, Little JP, Li Y. Exercise snacks are a time-efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness but not maximal fat oxidation in inactive adults: a randomized controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2024 Jul 1;49(7):920-932. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0593. Epub 2024 Apr 3.

  PMID: 38569204 BACKGROUND

• Yin M, Zheng H, Bai M, Huang G, Chen Z, Deng S, Lyu M, Deng J, Zhang B, Li H, Zhang X, Liu Q, Little JP, Li Y. Effects of Integrating Stair Climbing-Based Exercise Snacks Into the Campus on Feasibility, Perceived Efficacy, and Participation Perspectives in Inactive Young Adults: A Randomized Mixed-Methods Pilot Study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Dec;34(12):e14771. doi: 10.1111/sms.14771.

  PMID: 39587826 BACKGROUND

• Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, Carty C, Chaput JP, Chastin S, Chou R, Dempsey PC, DiPietro L, Ekelund U, Firth J, Friedenreich CM, Garcia L, Gichu M, Jago R, Katzmarzyk PT, Lambert E, Leitzmann M, Milton K, Ortega FB, Ranasinghe C, Stamatakis E, Tiedemann A, Troiano RP, van der Ploeg HP, Wari V, Willumsen JF. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Dec;54(24):1451-1462. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955.

  PMID: 33239350 BACKGROUND

• Weston KL, Little JP, Weston M, McCreary S, Kitchin V, Gill A, Niven A, McNarry MA, Mackintosh KA. Application of Exercise Snacks across Youth, Adult and Clinical Populations: A Scoping Review. Sports Med Open. 2025 Mar 18;11(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00829-6.

  PMID: 40102333 BACKGROUND

• Wang T, Laher I, Li S. Exercise snacks and physical fitness in sedentary populations. Sports Med Health Sci. 2024 Feb 27;7(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2024.02.006. eCollection 2025 Jan.

  PMID: 39649791 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Prediabetic State; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity; Diabetes Mellitus

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Wen-Chun Tai, BS in Nutrition & Sports Med.

CONTACT

+886-62812811; mksfla6@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2026
• First Posted: May 27, 2026
• Study Start: May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)