Effects of Pedal-Assist E-Bike Commuting on Cardiometabolic Health, Physical Activity, and Psychological Well-Being in Overweight College Students
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (minutes/day)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study will evaluate the effects of using a pedal-assist electric bicycle (e-bike) for commuting on physical activity, fitness, and health in overweight or obese college students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 12-week e-bike commuting intervention or a control group. The study will measure changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, blood biomarkers, physical activity, and psychological well-being over a 24-week period.
Detailed Description
This randomized controlled trial investigates the effectiveness of e-bike commuting as a strategy to improve cardiometabolic health, physical activity levels, and psychological well-being in college students with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or higher. Eligible participants will be randomized to either a 12-week e-bike intervention group or a control group that continues usual commuting habits. Assessments will occur at baseline (Week 0), post-intervention (Week 12), and follow-up (Week 24). Each assessment will include VO₂peak testing using a graded cycle ergometer protocol, body composition assessment via BodPod, fasting fingerstick blood tests for glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides, blood pressure and resting heart rate measurement, and self-report questionnaires evaluating motivation, stress, affect, mental health, and academic engagement. Participants will also complete a 30-minute submaximal cycling test during which affective responses will be recorded, and physical activity will be tracked over 7 days. Those assigned to the intervention group will receive a pedal-assist e-bike, helmet, and safety training and will be asked to ride at least four days per week for 12 weeks. The study aims to determine whether e-bike commuting can promote sustained physical activity and improve cardiometabolic and mental health outcomes in a population at risk for early health decline.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 30 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged 18-29 years
- •Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student
- •Body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m² (classified as overweight or obese)
- •Self-report of engaging in <150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
- •Able and willing to safely ride a bicycle for commuting or transportation purposes
- •Willing to be randomized and complete all study procedures across 24 weeks Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Current use of a bicycle or e-bike for commuting ≥2 times per week
- •Known cardiovascular, metabolic, or orthopedic conditions that limit physical activity or make exercise testing unsafe
- •Currently pregnant, planning pregnancy during the study period, or less than 6 months postpartum
- •Use of medications known to affect glucose metabolism, heart rate, or physical activity (e.g., beta-blockers, insulin)
- •Diagnosed severe mental health disorders that would impair study participation
- •Participation in another clinical trial or lifestyle intervention within the past 3 months
- •Inability or unwillingness to attend lab visits or comply with the intervention protocol
Arms & Interventions
Experimental Group
Participants in this group will receive a pedal-assist electric bicycle (e-bike), helmet, safety training, and cycling computer. They will be instructed to use the e-bike for commuting or transportation at least four days per week for 12 weeks. They will also complete assessments at baseline, Week 12, and Week 24, including fitness testing, body composition, blood testing, surveys, and activity monitoring.
Intervention: E-Bike Commuting (Behavioral)
Control Group
Participants in the control group will maintain their usual commuting and physical activity habits for the 12-week intervention period. They will complete the same assessments as the intervention group at baseline, Week 12, and Week 24.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (minutes/day)
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.
Physical activity will be measured using a hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer over 7 consecutive days at baseline, Week 12, and Week 24. The device will be analyzed using validated cut points to determine average daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The primary outcome is the change in MVPA from baseline to Week 24
Change in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂peak, mL/kg/min)
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.
Cardiorespiratory fitness will be measured via a graded cycling test using a metabolic cart to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak). Participants will complete the test at baseline (Week 0), post-intervention (Week 12), and follow-up (Week 24). The primary comparison will be the change in VO₂peak from baseline to Week 12 between the intervention and control groups.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in body fat percentage(From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.)
- Change in total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides (mg/dL)(From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.)
- Change in fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)(From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.)
- Change in exercise motivation (BREQ-3 score)(From enrollment to end of study at 24 weeks.)
Investigators
Gregory Ruegsegger
Professor
University of Wisconsin, River Falls