Behavioral Mechanism of Energy Compensation With Exercise
Condition: Obesity; Weight Loss; Eating Behavior
MeSH terms: Weight Loss
Intervention: exericse
Intervention description: participants perform aerobic exercise until they expend 500 kcal
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Intervention model description: counter balanced crossover design, exercise group and control treatment.
Masking: Single (Participant)
Masking description: Masking true propose of study- assessing eating behaviors.
Enrollment: 32.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: 45 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Keywords: attentional bias; inhibitory control; food reinforcement; energy compensation; exercise

Summary:

      Over 70% of Americans are either overweight or obese, putting them at risk for many chronic
      diseases including diabetes. Exercise is commonly used as a weight loss and weight loss
      maintenance strategy. However, exercise-induced weight loss is often much less than expected
      as individuals compensate for a large portion of the energy expended through exercise,
      resisting maintenance of the negative energy balance needed for weight loss. Our prior
      research, in agreement with others, point to increases in energy intake as the primary
      compensatory response when exercising for weight loss; however, mechanisms promoting this
      behavior have yet to be fully elucidated. With obesity and diabetes prevalence continually
      rising, innovative research is needed to identify novel mechanisms promoting energy
      compensation with exercise. The long-term goal of this proposal is to reduce the incidence
      and improve the outcomes of obesity-related diseases by developing interventions that will
      attenuate compensation for the energy expended through exercise and thus improve initial
      weight loss and weight loss maintenance. The present proposal will take the necessary first
      steps towards our long-term goal by identifying novel mechanisms promoting energy intake when
      exercising for weight loss.

      One's reinforcing value of food, attentional bias and inhibitory control for food cues play
      an important role in feeding behaviors, independent of hunger. These behaviors are largely a
      product of the central dopamine reward system, which is also in play with exercise behavior.
      This provides mechanistic support for our central hypothesis, that exercise evokes increases
      in food reinforcement, attentional bias, and lowers inhibitory control for food cues to
      promote greater energy intake in effort to maintain energy homeostasis. The rationale for
      this project is by elucidating the mechanisms mediating energy compensation, future
      interventions can be designed that attenuate this response to improve the utility of exercise
      as a weight loss intervention to prevent and manage T2DM. The overall objective of the
      current proposal is to demonstrate an acute bout of exercise alters food reinforcement,
      attentional bias and inhibitory control for food cues. Upon completion, we will have a
      greater understanding of the mechanisms underpinning compensatory increases in energy intake
      when exercising. These findings will pave the way for future clinical trials testing this
      hypothesis in the context of a long-term exercise intervention. This contribution is
      significant, as the identification of novel mechanisms influencing energy compensation with
      exercise is needed to provide strong support for the development of novel, evidence-based
      interventions to attenuate this compensatory response to exercise, improving its efficacy for
      weight control and chronic disease management.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  overweight to obese (BMI 25-45 kg/m2)

          -  not currently engaged in exercise or weight loss activities

          -  free of any cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic health conditions

          -  able to safely engage in exercise

          -  female participants must be premenopausal and not pregnant or nursing.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Lost or gained over 5% of their current bodyweight in the previous 12 months.

          -  taking any medications or dietary supplements which may influence energy expenditure
             or intake

          -  have not been diagnosed with an eating disorder, clinical depression, or an anxiety
             disorder

          -  engage in less than 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
             (assessed via accelerometry at baseline)