Effects of Intense Exercise on Neural Responses to Food.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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The Effects of High Intensity Exercise on Neural Responses to Images of Food

Conditions
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Neural Responses, Appetite Hormones, Subjective Appetite Sensations

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise
* Other: Rest


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Exercise<br>60 minutes of high intensity treadmill running | Other: Exercise<br> <br> |
| Experimental: Rest<br>60 minutes of seated rest (control trial) | Other: Rest<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neural responses following exercise and rest | Volunteers completed an fMRI assessment following 60 minutes of intense exercise and 60 minutes of rest on two separate occasions. | Ten minutes post-exercise/rest | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

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