Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05768958

Hedonic and Homeostatic Appetite Control in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the Context of Meal and Exercise Timing

The overall aim is to investigate effects of acute exercise on ad libitum energy intake and study whether this differs between morning and evening in individuals with overweight/obesity with or without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, the aim is to examine the role of hedonic and homeostatic drivers of appetite control in obesity and T2D in the context of meal and exercise timing.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Notify Me

Key information

About this study

Fifty-eight adults (age 18 - 75 years old) with overweight/obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) and with/without T2D will participate in this randomized cross-over study. Participants will complete two visits in the morning and two in the evening with a minimum of 3 days washout. The visits will include ratings of subjective appetite and blood samples in the fasted state followed by either a 45 min exercise bout or rest for the same duration. 15 min after the termination of the exercise bout/rest period the participants will be presented with an ad libitum meal for assessment of energy intake (primary outcome). Then the participants will complete the Steno Biometric Food Preference Task (SBFPT); A computerized task measuring food choice, explicit liking, and implicit and explicit wanting with concomitant biometric measurements. Throughout the visits, subjective appetite will be rated using visual analogue scales and blood will be collected for assessment of appetite-related hormones and metabolites.

(Time: -60 minutes (fasting), -45 minutes (start exercise/rest), 0 minutes (finish exercise/rest), 15 minutes (ad libitum meal), 30 minutes (finish al libitum meal), 60 minutes (end of visit)

Descriptive data will be collected at a visit prior to the test days. These data include body weight (kg), Body Mass Index (BMI, kg/m2), fat mass (kg), fat free mass (kg), fat percentage (%), HbA1c (mmol/mol and %), waist circumference (cm), VO2-0peak and ECG. The participants will furthermore fill in questionnaires regarding the following: Socio-Economic Status (SES), Control Over Eating (CoEQ), Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ), Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). In addition to the outcomes listed below, markers of liver function (Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), Aspartate Transaminase (ASAT)), HbA1c, sodium, and potassium will be measured in the fasting state on the first morning visit.

The specific objectives are to:

  • Assess whether energy intake during an ad libitum meal differs after an acute bout of exercise compared to a rest condition
  • Assess whether energy intake during an ad libitum meal after an acute bout of exercise differs between morning and evening
  • Assess whether appetite ratings, food reward, and metabolic markers i.e., hormones and metabolites in response to an acute exercise bout and subsequent ad libitum meal differ between morning and evening
  • Examine if the above findings differ between individuals with and without T2D
  • Identify circulating biomarkers that can be used to stratify individuals with overweight/obesity into primary hedonic or homeostatic driven in terms of ad libitum food intake

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults with overweight or obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) with and without T2D
  • HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol for people with T2D

Exclusion criteria

  • Not able to eat ad libitum meal
  • Not able to perform the exercise bout
  • Daily smoking
  • For women: Pregnancy / planned pregnancy (within the study period) / lactating
  • Self-reported history of an eating disorder in the past 3 years
  • Self-reported weight change (>5 kg) within three months prior to inclusion
  • Treatment with antidepressants
  • Treatment with fast acting insulin, combination insulin products and sulfonylureas
  • Alcohol/drug abuse or in treatment with disulfiram (antabus) at time of inclusion
  • Uncontrolled medical issues including but not limited to cardiovascular pulmonary, rheumatologic, hematologic, oncologic, infectious, gastrointestinal, or psychiatric disease; diabetes or other endocrine disease; immunosuppression
  • Current treatment with medication which significantly affect appetite or energy balance (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists)
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Unable to understand the informed consent and the study procedures
  • Concomitant participation in intervention studies
  • Incapable of understanding Danish

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Other

45 min exercise bout performed on bicycle ergometer. The exercise bout will consist of a 10 min warm-up period at 40 % Watt max followed by 4 cycles of 4 min at 85 % Watt max and 3 min at 50 % Watt max. A cool-down period (7 min) will be performed at 40 % Watt max.

Control

Other

45 min rest during the same time period as the exercise bout on exercise study visits.

Primary outcomes

  1. Ad libitum energy intake (KJ) after exercise compared with rest

    Time frame: Measured after meal consumption at t = 30 minutes

    Food intake (KJ) is measured after meal completion, exercise compared with rest

Secondary outcomes

  1. Ad libitum energy intake (KJ) after exercise in the morning compared with evening

    Time frame: Measured after meal consumption at t = 30 minutes

    Assess whether energy intake during an ad libitum meal after exercise differs between morning and evening

  2. Ad libitum energy intake (KJ) after rest in the morning compared with evening

    Time frame: Measured after meal consumption at t = 30 minutes

    Assess whether energy intake during an ad libitum meal after rest differs between morning and evening

  3. Eating pace (KJ/min)

    Time frame: Measured from start to finish of meal consumption at t = 15 minutes to end of meal, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Energy intake relative to duration of meal consumption

  4. Glucose (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of glucose

  5. Triglyceride (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of triglyceride

  6. Total cholesterol (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of total cholesterol

  7. LDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of LDL cholesterol

  8. HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of HDL cholesterol

  9. VLDL cholesterol (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of VLDL cholesterol

  10. Free-Fatty Acids (mmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Free-Fatty Acids.

  11. Circulating metabolides (metabolomics) (g/mL)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of circulating metabolides measured with metabolomic analysis

  12. Circulating lipids (lipidomics) (g/mL)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of circulating lipids measured with lipidomic analysis

  13. Circulating proteins (proteomics) (g/mL)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of circulating proteins measured with proteomic analysis

  14. Insulin (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of insulin

  15. Glucagon (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of glucagon

  16. Total ghrelin (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of total ghrelin

  17. Acylated ghrelin (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of acylated ghrelin

  18. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1)

  19. Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)

  20. C-peptide (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of C-peptide

  21. Peptide YY (PYY) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Peptide YY (PYY)

  22. Peptide YY (PYY) 3-36 (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Peptide YY (PYY) 3-36

  23. Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF-21) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF-21)

  24. Leptin (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes), and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Leptin

  25. Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15)

  26. Cholecystokinin (CCK) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Cholecystokinin (CCK)

  27. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) (pmol/L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes), and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of Pancreatic polypeptide (PP)

  28. C-reactive protein (CRP) (pmol(L)

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60 minutes), and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP)

  29. Food choice

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Food choice of food items from four combined food categories (high-fat savoury, high-fat sweet, low-fat savoury and low-fat sweet foods) examined from the SBFPT. Food choice is determined based on frequency of selection made within each food category. The scores range from 0-48 i.e. 0 = foods within a specific food category have not been selected at all to 48 = foods within a specific food category have been selected 48 times.

  30. Attention

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Measured using eye tracking in response to looking at food pictures during the computerized Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire.

    Includes the following parameters: Gaze: Time spent (ms and %) and revisits (n); and fixations: Time to first fixation (ms), time spent (ms and %), fixation count (n), first fixation duration (ms), average fixation duration (ms). Distance to screen (mm), and gaze direction bias (ratio) which is calculated as the number of trials in which the first fixation was directed to a food image as a proportion to all trials. A bias score ˃0.5 indicates attention towards one food image, a bias score equal to 0.5 indicates no bias, and a bias score <0.5 indicates attention towards the other food images.

  31. Reaction time (ms)

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Reaction time during forced food choice of food items from four combined food categories (high-fat savoury, high-fat sweet, low-fat savoury and low-fat sweet foods) examined from the computerized Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire.

  32. Explicit liking

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Explicit liking of 16 food items from four combined food categories (high-fat savoury, high-fat sweet, low-fat savoury and low-fat sweet foods) examined from the SBFPT. Explicit liking is rated using visual analogue scales and the range is 0-100. Each end represents the extremes e.g. Question: "how pleasant would it be to taste this food right now?" Answer: "not at all" (rated 0 on the 0-100 scale) to "extremely" (rated 100 on the 0-100 scale).

  33. Implicit wanting

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Implicit wanting of food items from four combined food categories (high-fat savoury, high-fat sweet, low-fat savoury and low-fat sweet foods) examined from the SBFPT. Implicit wanting is assessed based on food choice and response time for selected and non-selected food items as well as mean response time (a frequency-weighted algorithm).

    In this frequency-weighted algorithm a positive score indicates a more rapid preference for a food type over another food type and a negative score indicates the opposite. A score of zero indicates that food types are equally preferred. The frequency weighted algorithm is used so the implicit wanting score is influenced by both selection (positively contributing to the score) and non-selection (negatively contributing to the score) of food type. Scores for implicit wanting typically range from -100-100 (due to reaction time there is no fixed min-max value)

  34. Explicit wanting

    Time frame: Measured before exercise/rest (t = -60 minutes) and after meal consumption (t= 30 minutes), morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Explicit wanting of 16 food items from four combined food categories (high-fat savoury, high-fat sweet, low-fat savoury and low-fat sweet foods) examined from the SBFPT. Explicit wanting is rated using visual analogue scales and the range is 0-100. Each end represents the extremes e.g. Question: "how much do you want some of this food now?" Answer: "not at all" (rated 0 on the 0-100 scale) to "extremely" (rated 100 on the 0-100 scale).

  35. Subjective appetite

    Time frame: Fasting (t = -60, 0 minutes) and at t = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Rated using visual analogue scales and includes sensations of: Hunger, fullness, satiety, prospective food consumption, wellbeing, nausea, thirst, desire to eat meat, salty, and sweet. The scale range is 0-100 and each end represent the extremes e.g. hunger rating: "I am not hungry at all" to "I have never been this hungry before".

  36. Energy intake (KJ)

    Time frame: Registered 24 hours after the test days, morning and evening, exercise and rest

    Assessed from diet records

  37. Borg RPE

    Time frame: Measured after exercise (t = 0 minutes) , morning and evening

    Subjective rating of the level of exertion during exercise is collected through the Borg Rating of Percieved Exertion (RPE) at baseline and post exercise, and compared between visits.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen

Other

Collaborators

  • Novo Nordisk A/S
  • University of Leeds

Registry information

Acronym: TIMEX

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 15, 2023
Registry last updated
May 30, 2025

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.