How different exercise intensities affect hunger hormones in people with obesity and prediabetes
Official title: Modulation of Ghrelin Release by Exercise Intensity: The Role of Obesity and Prediabetes Status
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-10661601 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how different levels of exercise affect a hormone called ghrelin, which helps control hunger and energy, in both lean and obese adults, including those with prediabetes, to see how exercise can help improve health and manage appetite.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $323,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129510-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10661601 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who are either lean or obese and may have prediabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adults or do not have issues related to obesity or prediabetes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how varying levels of exercise intensity influence the release of ghrelin, a hormone that regulates appetite and energy balance, in both lean and obese adults, including those with prediabetes. By examining the effects of exercise on different forms of ghrelin, the study aims to understand how these hormones interact and how they can be manipulated to improve metabolic health. Participants will engage in exercise sessions while their hormone levels are monitored, providing insights into the relationship between physical activity and appetite regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for managing obesity and prediabetes through tailored exercise programs.
How similar studies have gone: While some studies have explored the relationship between exercise and ghrelin, this research aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the different forms of ghrelin and their responses to exercise intensity, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weltman, Arthur — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Weltman, Arthur
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Midlife obesity and prediabetes as triggers for later cognitive decline linked to immune dysregulation
This grant explores how midlife obesity and prediabetes may lead to memory and thinking problems later in life by influencing brain inflammation and immune pathways.
-
How midlife obesity and prediabetes affect brain health in older adults
This study is looking at how being overweight and having prediabetes in middle age might affect thinking and memory as we get older, especially by exploring how inflammation in the brain could play a role, and it aims to find ways to help prevent or slow down cognitive decline for older adults.
-
Understanding nerve cell communication in obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes
This project explores how nerve cells communicate and how this process is affected by conditions like obesity and diabetes, hoping to find new ways to treat nerve damage.
-
Understanding how Schwann cells and nerves interact in obesity and diabetes
This study is looking at how being overweight or having diabetes affects the nerves in your body, and it hopes to find out if changes in diet and exercise can help improve nerve health for people dealing with these conditions.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.