Actively Recruiting
Effects of Exercise Training on Brain Activity and Its Relation to Weight Maintenance and Appetite Regulation
Led by Joslin Diabetes Center · Updated on 2025-09-04
15
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
J
Joslin Diabetes Center
Lead Sponsor
N
Nutrition Obesity Research Center
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying how high-intensity interval training (HIIT) affects brain function and molecular pathways related to weight control in adults aged 18 to 70 years. This study includes people with a body mass index over 19, including those who have had bariatric surgery and experienced significant weight regain. The goal is to better understand how exercise influences brain activity and appetite, which could help future obesity treatments. Participants will undergo a 12-week HIIT program with four weekly sessions lasting 28 minutes each. Each session includes a 3-minute warm-up, six cycles of 40 seconds of high-intensity exercise followed by 3 minutes of moderate intensity, and a 3-minute cool-down. These sessions will be supervised and partly conducted at a diabetes center and at home. Before and after the training, participants will complete clinical visits involving medical assessments and brain imaging. During six clinical visits, participants will have tests including blood draws, glucose tolerance tests, metabolic rate measurements, exercise capacity tests, psychometric evaluations, and functional brain MRI scans. Researchers will track changes in brain connectivity, appetite, mood, cognitive function, and molecular markers in blood samples before and after the exercise program. The study will monitor participants' progress and gather data to understand the effects of HIIT on brain and weight regulation.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Exercise, Brain Activity, and Weight Maintenance
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18-70 years
- Body mass index (BMI) greater than 19 kg/m2 and body weight less than 250 kg
- For participants with bariatric surgery: experienced over 10% weight regain within 1 to 5 years post-surgery, with self-reported weight loss history and operative report provided
- In good general health without conditions that could affect study outcomes
- Willing to follow study protocol for the entire duration
You will not qualify if you...
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Peripheral neuropathy with insensate feet
- Recent blood donation within last 2 months
- Use of beta-blockers
- Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Active heart or lung disease
- Severe hypertension (systolic >160 mmHg or diastolic >90 mmHg)
- Unable to exercise for any reason
- Contraindications to exercise testing per ACSM guidelines
- MRI contraindications such as pacemakers, aneurysm clips, metal implants, or foreign objects
- Known structural brain lesions or neurological disorders affecting study findings
- History of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or congestive heart failure
- Active hematological, renal, pulmonary, or hepatic disorders
- Active cancer treatment
- History of active alcohol or substance abuse
- Significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition affecting compliance
- Claustrophobia or inability to tolerate MRI
- Body weight over 250 kg or body diameter over 70 cm (MRI scanner limits)
- Unable or unwilling to attend study visits and undergo testing
- Left-handedness
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
3 initial clinical visits before beginning exercise training
Duration - 12 weeks
Participants complete a 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program with four weekly 28-minute exercise sessions.
Four weekly exercise sessions, each lasting 28 minutes
Duration - Immediately after the 12-week training program
Participants return for three post-training clinical visits repeating all baseline assessments.
3 clinical visits after training completion
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Maria Vamvini, MD
L
Laura Simpson, MS
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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