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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02833051

The Impact of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Children's Eating Behaviors

The purpose of this project is to examine the effects of an acute bout of exercise on children's energy intake over the course of a day. Previous studies in adolescents and adults have shown exercise to be effective in decreasing short-term energy intake, with some variability. Individual characteristics such as habitual physical activity and psychological factors may influence the effect of exercise on energy intake, but these factors have yet to be examined. The investigators have assembled a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, with expertise in eating behavior, exercise, psychology, and clinical research in order to examine these questions. First, the investigators will examine the difference in energy intake at lunch, snack, and dinner meals in response to 30 minutes of imposed exercise compared to 30 minutes of rest. Second, the investigators will collect objective measures of children's habitual physical activity, child characteristics (body composition, eating behavior traits), and individual responses to the controlled exercise bout. The investigators can then examine both group and individual differences in the energy intake response to exercise. Children (ages 9-12) will be tested over the course of three visits. The key outcome will be differences in energy intake in response to exercise vs. rest. Secondary outcomes include the influence of differences in habitual physical activity, personal characteristics, and responses to the exercise bout on children's energy intake. The long term goal of this line of research is to understand the mechanisms behind the interaction between exercise and energy intake. The translational potential of this research will be to inform personalized childhood obesity prevention strategies in children at risk for overweight.

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Key information

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

9 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • English as a native language
  • Reading at/above grade level
  • Generally healthy
  • Child is "normal weight" below the 85% age- and sex-specific BMI percentile
  • Child has at least one biological parent classified as "overweight" or "obese" (≥ 25 kg/m^2)
  • Regularly eats breakfast

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to exercise testing (as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine)
  • Medical conditions
  • Psychiatric conditions
  • Participation in competitive sports teams (year-round or more than 3 practices / week)
  • Food allergies or other dietary restrictions

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Baseline energy intake

    Time frame: Collected at week 1 of the study

    Food intake is measured at objective laboratory test-meals as the difference between the pre-meal and post-meal weights of individual food items served. Weight of food is converted to energy in kilocalories based on nutrition facts label information.

  2. Energy intake following exercise

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Food intake is measured at objective laboratory test-meals as the difference between the pre-meal and post-meal weights of individual food items served. Weight of food is converted to energy in kilocalories based on nutrition facts label information.

  3. Energy intake following sedentary control

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Food intake is measured at objective laboratory test-meals as the difference between the pre-meal and post-meal weights of individual food items served. Weight of food is converted to energy in kilocalories based on nutrition facts label information.

  4. Activity-related energy expenditure - Baseline day

    Time frame: Collected in the laboratory at week 1, 2, and 3, and at home for one week between the 2nd and 3rd laboratory visits

    Measured using ActiGraph accelerometers

  5. Activity-related energy expenditure - Exercise day

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Measured using ActiGraph accelerometers

  6. Activity-related energy expenditure - Sedentary control day

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Measured using ActiGraph accelerometers

Secondary outcomes

  1. Baseline submaximal fitness test performance

    Time frame: Collected at week 1 of the study

    YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test - American College of Sports Medicine

  2. Exercise test performance (70% intensity) - Heart rate

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Measured by Polar Heart Rate Monitor

  3. Exercise test performance (70% intensity) - Blood pressure

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Measured by registered nurse or trained research assistant

  4. Exercise test performance (70% intensity) - Ratings of perceived exertion

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Measured on the Borg Scale

  5. Exercise test performance (70% intensity) - Completion

    Time frame: Collected at week 2 or 3 (randomized) of the study

    Children's completion of the full 30 minutes of 70% intensity exercise

  6. Child sleep patterns

    Time frame: Collected at home for one week between the 2nd and 3rd laboratory visits

    Measured using ActiGraph accelerometers

  7. Child physical activity patterns

    Time frame: Collected at home for one week between the 2nd and 3rd laboratory visits

    Measured using ActiGraph accelerometers

Other outcomes

  1. Liking of foods

    Time frame: Collected at week 1 and 2 of the study

    Ratings of how much child likes specific foods used in the study test meals, completed on visual analog scales

  2. Wanting of foods

    Time frame: Collected at week 1 and 2 of the study

    Ratings of how much child wants to eat specific foods used in the study test meals, completed on visual analog scales

  3. Fullness feelings

    Time frame: Collected at multiple time points during weeks 1, 2, and 3

    Ratings of how full the child feels on a child friendly visual analog scale

  4. Height

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Height in cm measured by stadiometer

  5. Weight

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Weight in kg by standard digital scale

  6. Body fat percentage

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis scale

  7. Body mass index

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Calculated from height and weight (kg/m^2)

  8. BMI percentile

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Calculated from height, weight, age, sex

  9. BMI z-score

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Calculated from height, weight, age, sex

  10. Fat mass index

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Calculated from body fat percentage, weight, height

  11. Fat-free mass index

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Calculated from fat mass, weight, height

  12. Appetitive traits

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Parent-reported questionnaire of habitual eating styles in children

  13. Pubertal development

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Parent-reported questionnaire

  14. Family demographics

    Time frame: Collected at week 1

    Parent-reported questionnaire

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Penn State University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Jul 14, 2016
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2021

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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