How regular training affects eating behavior and post-meal responses
Investigating in Humans the Impact of Training Status on Dietary Consumption With Direct Measurement of Ingestive Behaviour
This project will test whether regular exercise changes what and how much university-aged adults (18–35 years, BMI 18.5–26) choose to eat and how their bodies respond after meals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Zurich Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zurich, Canton of Zurich) |
| Trial ID | NCT07082582 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The project compares ingestive behavior and postprandial physiology between adults who are long-term regularly trained and those who are untrained. Participants will be offered three meals (high-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-sucrose lactose-free milk) separately and together while investigators directly record microstructural eating behavior with specialized measurement equipment. Blood draws will measure post-meal gut hormones, stool samples will be analyzed for gut microbiome composition and activity, and body composition will be measured to relate intake patterns to physique. This cross-sectional observational approach aims to translate prior rodent findings into human data on how training status influences food choice and physiological responses.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are university-enrolled adults aged 18–35 with BMI 18.5–26 who are either long-term regularly trained or untrained, can communicate in English or German, and are willing to attend in-person visits at University Hospital Zurich.
Not a fit: People outside the age or BMI limits, with metabolic disorders, recent antibiotic or probiotic use, pregnancy, smoking history, prior bariatric surgery, or who cannot attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help tailor dietary and exercise recommendations by showing how regular training influences food choice, intake amounts, and gut-hormone responses.
How similar studies have performed: Rodent experiments have shown training-related changes in ingestive behavior and the investigators previously reported successful direct-measurement work after RYGB surgery, but direct microstructural measurement by training status in humans is novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Training status classified as "trained" or "untrained", * Chronological age ≥ 18 and ≤ 35, * Body Mass Index ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 26, * Current enrolment in a university, * Language: English or German, with a sufficient English proficiency to fill out the food questionnaire, * Ability and willingness to participate in the study, and * Voluntarily signed informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * History of previous metabolic and bariatric surgery, * Current use of medications for medical treatment (excluding contraceptive measures), * Current use of over-the-counter medications for weight loss or appetite control, * Current medical diagnosis of metabolic disorders (such as type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus), * Use of antibiotics in the last two months, * History of use of probiotics (excluding yogurt and sauerkraut), * Smoking, * Biological or surgical menopause, * Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), * Pregnancy, lactation, or current attempt of conception, and * History of chronic substance abuse.
Where this trial is running
Zurich, Canton of Zurich
- University Hospital Zurich — Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Michele Serra, PhD
- Email: michele.serra@usz.ch
- Phone: +41 76 222 67 63
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.