Energy Metabolism and Eating Behavior in Underweight and Normal-weight Individuals

NCT07671105 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 210624007
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 59
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates eating behavior and metabolic responses following consumption of a high-fat high-energy meal in healthy underweight and normal-weight adults. The primary research question is: Do healthy underweight individuals exhibit different eating and metabolic responses compared with normal-weight adults following consumption of a high-fat high-energy meal?

Conditions

Healthy Underweight; Normal Weight Adults

Keywords

Healthy underweight; Energy metabolism; Energy intake; Food preferences; Eating behavior; High-fat feeding

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Total ad-libitum energy intake

  Total energy intake consumed during the ad libitum feeding test. Participants will be provided with a selection of foods and instructed to eat ad libitum until comfortably satiated. The weight of each food item will be recorded before and after consumption, and intake will be determined from the difference. Total energy intake (kcal) will be calculated from the nutrient composition of the foods consumed using standard energy conversion factors.

  The feeding test will be conducted 6.5 hours after the high-fat, high-energy meal.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Food liking

  Measured during the screening visit.

• Body composition

  Measured during a dedicated body composition assessment visit.

• Subjective appetite sensations

  Repeatedly measured during the metabolic test before and following consumption of the high-fat, high-energy meal.

• Energy expenditure and fuel oxidation

  Repeatedly measured during the metabolic test before and following consumption of the high-fat, high-energy meal.

• Circulating metabolite and hormonal concentrations

  Repeatedly measured during the metabolic test before and following consumption of the high-fat, high-energy meal.

Study Arms (1)

High-fat, high-energy meal

EXPERIMENTAL

Healthy underweight and normal-weight adults will consume a standardized high-fat, high-energy meal following an overnight fast. Assessments will include appetite sensations, energy expenditure, circulating biomarkers, and ad libitum food intake.

Other: High-fat high-energy meal

Interventions

High-fat high-energy meal OTHER

Following an overnight fast, participants will consume a standardized high-fat high-energy meal under controlled laboratory conditions. During the subsequent postprandial period, appetite sensations, energy expenditure, circulating biomarkers, and food intake will be assessed. Food intake will be evaluated using an ad libitum meal test consisting of two sequential phases involving foods with different sensory and nutritional characteristics.

High-fat, high-energy meal

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Men or women
• Age 18-25 years
• Stable body weight during the previous 6 months (±2 kg)
• Healthy according to medical history and laboratory assessments
• BMI: 15.0-\<18.5 kg/m2 or 20.0-\<25.0 kg/m2

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Athletes or individuals engaged in high levels of physical activity, including those participating in competitive sports, structured endurance training, or physically demanding occupations.
• Cardiovascular, liver, kidney, thyroid, or other chronic diseases requiring medical treatment
• Conditions affecting energy metabolism or eating behavior
• Smoking or alcohol abuse
• Phobia or vasovagal response associated with blood draws
• Intolerance or allergy to peanuts, chocolate, eggs, or gluten
• Irregular menstrual cycles (\>3 months without menstruation)
• Current or previous diagnosis of eating disorders
• Psychiatric disorders requiring antidepressant or psychotropic treatment
• Additional criterion for healthy underweight participants:
• Absence of food insecurity
• Low body weight not attributable to eating disorders or exercise-related behaviors

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jose Galgani: lead
• Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Avda. Libertador Bernardo O´Higgins 340

Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Food Preferences; Feeding Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Behavior, Animal

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Responsible Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Posted: June 26, 2026
• Study Start: March 23, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 16, 2026
• Study Completion: January 16, 2026
• Last Updated: June 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CL (1)