Exercise and brain responses to stress-related eating in veterans
Official title: Exercise Effects on the Neurobiology Underlying Stress-Related Eating Behaviors in Veterans
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06627569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether adding a structured exercise program for 12 weeks changes how veterans’ brains respond to thinking tasks and food images, and whether hormonal differences between men and women influence those brain changes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 132 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Aurora, Colorado) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 15, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 30, 2030 |
| Study ends | August 30, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | October 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06627569 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Veterans with BMI of 25 or greater who are physically inactive and can attend in-person visits in Aurora, CO.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals who are unable to exercise due to health reasons or do not experience brain-behavior changes from exercise may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Veterans with overweight or obesity will be randomized to either continue usual activities or perform exercise sessions four times weekly for 12 weeks. Brain responses to cognitive tasks and food-related images will be measured before and after the intervention, along with hormonal factors that may differ by sex. The study uses MRI to examine brain activity and will compare groups to see if exercise alters neural responses linked to stress-related eating. Participants must be physically inactive, able to attend in-person visits in Aurora, CO, and meet other safety criteria. The goal is to understand how lifestyle changes like exercise affect brain function related to eating behavior and whether sex hormones modulate these effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reveal brain-based mechanisms by which exercise influences eating behavior in veterans with overweight or obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests lifestyle interventions can alter brain responses to food cues, but this specific brain-nbehavior link with exercise in veterans is an emerging area.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran * Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater * Physically inactive * Able to attend study visits in person in Aurora, CO Exclusion Criteria: * Currently pregnant * History of bariatric surgery * Current eating disorder * Current treatment with appetite-altering medications (e.g., glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists) * Contraindication to MRI (weight \> 500 pounds (lbs); claustrophobia; metal or electronic devices in the body) * Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary disease, or diabetes * Unable to exercise due to cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, or orthopedic reasons
Where it's running
-
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kristina T. Legget, PhD — Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
- Study coordinator: Kristina T Legget, PhD
- Email: kristina.legget@va.gov
- Phone: (720) 724-5809
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.