Effects of Intense Exercise on Neural Responses to Food.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Appetite Hormones; Neural Responses; Subjective Appetite Sensations
• Interventions: Other: Rest; Other: Exercise

• Registration Number: NCT01926431
• Lead Sponsor: University of Birmingham

Brief Summary

The primary aim of this study was to determine the effects of an acute bout of high intensity exercise on the brains response to viewing pictures of food using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Detailed Description

It is clear that intense exercise impacts on peripheral appetite regulation, however very little is known about the impact of high-intensity exercise on central appetite regulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity exercise on both central and peripheral responses to images of food. Functional magnetic resonance techniques were used to assess the brains response to images of high and low calorie foods, following a short bout of high-intensity exercise. Appetite hormone concentrations were also measured. It was hypothesized that, due to the known effects of high-intensity exercise on appetite regulatory hormones and subjective appetite ratings, the activation of reward-related brain regions to visual food cues would be modulated following intense physical activity.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-09
• Primary Completion: 2011-05
• Study Completion: 2011-05
• Status Verified: 2013-08
• Study First Submitted: 2013-08-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-08-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-08-20
• Study First Posted: 2013-08-21
• Last Update Posted: 2013-08-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 16

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy, non-smokers, free from cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease, no medication, participated in moderate/vigorous physical activity (>2 hours per week)

Exclusion Criteria

• Smokers, history of cardiovascular/metabolic disease, low physical activity levels, inability to participate in fMRI scanning sessions including contraindications to MRI

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Rest	Rest	60 minutes of seated rest (control trial)
Exercise	Exercise	60 minutes of high intensity treadmill running

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Neural responses following exercise and rest	Ten minutes post-exercise/rest	Volunteers completed an fMRI assessment following 60 minutes of intense exercise and 60 minutes of rest on two separate occasions.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Appetite hormones	Blood samples taken at baseline, following exercise/rest, prior to the fMRI assessment and immediately following the fMRI assessment	Blood samples were taken using a cannula system for both trials. Concentrations of appetite regulating hormones were measured from plasma.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Birmingham University Imaging Centre; 🇬🇧 Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom