Personalized exercise and diet program to reduce atrial fibrillation episodes and heart/body fat
Effect of a Tailored Exercise and Dietary Lifestyle Intervention on Reducing Atrial Fibrillation Burden, Cardiac and Body Fat Mass in Overweight and Obese Patients. The MOVE-AF Ran-domized Clinical Trial
This 12-month program will try personalized exercise plus dietary counseling to reduce atrial fibrillation episodes, symptoms, and heart and body fat in overweight adults with paroxysmal or persistent AF.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 158 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Eastern Finland Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Jyväskylä, Central Finland and 3 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07430007 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
MOVE-AF is a randomized, open-label trial enrolling 158 overweight or obese adults with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation who are randomized 1:1 to a 12-month tailored exercise and dietary lifestyle intervention plus usual care or to usual care alone. The intervention combines individualized guideline-based aerobic and resistance exercise with dietary counseling aimed at reducing body fat. AF burden will be measured with continuous ambulatory rhythm monitoring and symptom severity with validated questionnaires, while cardiac and total body fat are quantified by cardiac MRI and body composition analysis. Secondary outcomes include cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, cardiac autonomic function, cardiac remodeling, healthcare utilization, and cost-effectiveness.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–75 years old with BMI ≥27 kg/m², documented paroxysmal or persistent AF, the ability to participate in exercise training, and access to a smartphone for rhythm monitoring.
Not a fit: Patients with permanent AF, severe cardiac or pulmonary disease, major cognitive impairment, active malignancy, or other contraindications to exercise or dietary modification are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce AF episode frequency and symptoms, decrease cardiac and total body fat, and improve fitness and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Prior observational studies and some smaller trials show that weight loss and structured lifestyle programs can reduce AF burden and symptoms, but long-term randomized trials with continuous monitoring and cardiac MRI are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-75 years * Body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m² * Documented atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal or persistent) * Ability to participate in exercise training and follow study procedures * Access to a smartphone or device enabling rhythm monitoring * Provides written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Permanent atrial fibrillation * Unstable angina pectoris or acute coronary syndrome within the past 3 months * Participation in other lifestyle or drug weight reduction trials * Significant left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction \<30%) * Severe valvular heart disease or planned cardiac surgery * Severe heart failure (NYHA class IV) or severe angina (CCS class IV) * Unstable coronary artery disease or recent myocardial infarction * Severe pulmonary disease limiting exercise capacity * Active malignancy * Autoimmune or systemic inflammatory diseases * Severe renal or hepatic failure * Memory disease or significant cognitive impairment * Unstable psychiatric condition * Recent joint or back surgery within the past 6 months * Continuing back or joint pain symptoms and inability to take part in individualized exercise training * Contraindications to exercise testing or training, including cardiac symptoms or cardiovascular symptoms, making exercise unsafe * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Participation in another interventional study * Any condition judged by investigators to make participation unsafe or infeasible
Where this trial is running
Jyväskylä, Central Finland and 3 other locations
- Hospital Nova of Central Finland — Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland (Recruiting)
- University of Eastern Finland — Kuopio, Eastern Finland, Finland (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Kuopio University Hospital — Kuopio, Northern Savonia, Finland (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Tampere University Hospital — Tampere, Finland (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jari Laukkanen, MD, PhD — University of Eastern Finland
- Study coordinator: Jari Laukkanen, MD, PhD
- Email: jariantero.laukkanen@uef.fi
- Phone: +358505053013
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.