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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01693926

Effect of Physical Activity an Stress in Children

The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of physical activity in obese and nonobese prepubertal children on:

1. biological stress responses during a psychosocial stress test 2. snacking and feeling of hunger in response to the same psychosocial stress test 3. the moderating factor of attachment on the biological stress responses and on snacking

Children will be investigated on one study day during 3.5 hours.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Behavior Body Weight Children Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Physical Activity Signs and Symptoms Snacking Stress

Age range

7 year–10 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Univeristy of Lausanne, SUPEA

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011, Switzerland

About this study

Hypotheses In this study, 3 primary hypotheses will be tested.

  • Moderate physical activity during 25 min in children decreases the cortisol levels in response to the Trier Social Stress Test TSST-C (for children).
  • Moderate physical activity during 25 min in children decreases the snacking (calorie consumption when corrected for expenditure and switch in quality of food intake) in response to the Trier Social Stress Test TSST-C (for children).
  • A secure attachment will be a moderating factor for the general increase in cortisol and the snacking in response to the psychosocial stress test (Trier Social Stress Test TSST-C).

Secondary objectives:

  • To test if the impact of physical activity on stress responses and snacking differs between obese and non-obese children
  • To test the impact of physical activity on the cardiovascular stress reactivity (blood pressure, heart rate) and the perceived stress (scale) in response to the Trier Social Stress Test TSST-C?
  • To test if the stress reactivity and its modulation by physical activity is different in anxious and in impulsives/labile children
  • To test if serious life events and parental worries and parental educational style influence the stress reactivity

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 7-10 year old children

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe illness
  • Medications interfering with study

Treatment and study plan

Acute physical activity intervention

Behavioral

25 min of physical activity. The placebo arm will have 25 min of reading.

Placebo

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in salivary Cortisol and maximal levels of salivary cortisol in response to the TSST stress test over 2 hours

    Time frame: 9 months

  2. Snacking (Caloric intake, corrected for energy expenditure)

    Time frame: 9 months

    Measure of caloric intake and measure of choice of high-caloric vs low-caloric food snacking after the TSST stress test

  3. Moderator effect of attachment (4 different attachment categories), i.e. children with a secure attachment will have lower rises in cortisol compared with children in the other 3 attachment categories

    Time frame: 9 months

    Cortisol levels after the TSST stress test will be lower in children with secure attachment compared to detached, disorganized or preoccupied children (i.e. the 3 other attachment categories).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Moderator effect of obesity (WHO criteria)

    Time frame: 9 months

  2. Cardiovascular reactivity (changes and maximal levels of blood pressure, heart rate)

    Time frame: 9 months

  3. Perceived stress (stress scale from 1-7)

    Time frame: 9 months

  4. Moderator role of serious life events and parental worries

    Time frame: 9 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Lausanne Hospitals

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2017
First posted
Sep 26, 2012
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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