Understanding how exercise affects fat tissue in healthy and obese individuals

The Role of Adipose Tissue in Adaptive Responses to Exercise

NA · Mayo Clinic · NCT06053125

This study is testing how exercise changes fat tissue in both healthy and obese adults to see if these changes can improve health as we age.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
SponsorMayo Clinic (other)
Locations1 site (Rochester, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT06053125 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This research aims to explore the impact of exercise on adipose tissue and how these changes may enhance health in aging and obesity. The study will involve collecting adipose tissue biopsies from both obese and normal weight adults before, immediately after, and three hours post-exercise. Advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing will be employed to analyze the cellular composition and signaling changes in adipose tissue. The primary hypothesis is that exercise induces temporary alterations in adipose tissue that contribute to its beneficial effects on overall health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18-35 or 65-85 with a BMI between 18.5 and 40 kg/m2 who have been weight stable for at least three months.

Not a fit: Patients who regularly engage in structured physical activity or have chronic diseases that may interfere with exercise may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved health outcomes for individuals with obesity and aging by optimizing exercise recommendations.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results regarding the effects of exercise on adipose tissue, but this specific approach is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults between the ages of 18-35 OR 65-85.
* BMI 18.5 kg/m2 - 40 kg/m2
* Weight stable (≥ 3 months)
* Generally healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participation in ≥ 30 minutes of structured physical activity ≥ 2 days per week.
* Smoking/tobacco use.
* Alcohol/substance abuse.
* Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
* Anemia.
* Abnormal renal function.
* Blood clotting disorders.
* Coronary artery disease.
* Uncontrolled thyroid disease.
* Liver disease.
* Use of medications known to influence the main outcomes of the study.
* Orthopedic problems that may be aggravated by exercise.
* Chronic disease at the discretion of the investigators.

Where this trial is running

Rochester, Minnesota

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Healthy, Obesity, exercise, adipose, cytokines

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.