Exercise for Binge Eating Disorder

Overseen By K. Jean Forney, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio University

Must be taking: Hormonal contraception

Must not be taking: GLP-1 agonists

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Recent pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

26 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how exercise affects appetite in women who struggle with binge eating. Participants will engage in various activities, including exercising after eating (Fed Exercise), exercising on an empty stomach (Fasted Exercise), and simply resting. The aim is to determine if these routines can help manage loss of control eating. Women who have experienced binge eating at least 12 times in the past three months and are willing to eat study-provided foods may be suitable for this study. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise can influence eating behaviors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it does exclude those taking medications that acutely affect appetite. Psychiatric medications are allowed.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that exercising, whether before eating (fasted) or after eating (fed), is generally safe for most people. Some studies suggest that exercising on an empty stomach might help burn more fat, but individual health conditions should be considered.

For people with eating disorders, exercise can have both positive and negative effects. It can improve mental health, but it might also cause problems if not done carefully. For instance, those with eating disorders might face issues due to poor nutrition or other health concerns.

Both fasted and fed exercise have been studied for their safety and benefits. Current research is examining how these exercises might impact binge eating. While specific side effects for each type of exercise aren't clearly defined, the early-stage nature of this study suggests these exercises are generally well-tolerated. However, consulting a healthcare provider about personal health concerns before starting any new exercise routine is always best. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different exercise timing and meal consumption can impact binge eating disorder. Unlike standard treatments, which typically involve therapy and medication, this trial examines whether exercising on an empty stomach (fasted) versus after eating (fed) can offer new benefits for managing this condition. By comparing these exercise regimens to periods of rest, researchers hope to uncover innovative strategies that could complement existing therapies and offer a non-pharmacological approach to help individuals with binge eating disorder.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for binge eating disorder?

Research has shown that exercise can reduce binge eating episodes and improve weight management in people with binge eating disorder. In this trial, participants will experience different exercise conditions. Fasted exercise, or exercising on an empty stomach, has been linked to better control of blood sugar levels, which might benefit those who choose to exercise without eating first.

Conversely, fed exercise, or exercising after eating, has significantly reduced binge eating episodes. Studies have found that combining exercise with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can lead to a 58% success rate in stopping binge eating. This trial evaluates both types of exercise for their potential to help manage binge eating disorder. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women who experience loss of control eating at least 12 times in the last three months, have a clinically significant eating disorder, meet minimum fitness levels, enjoy chocolate, and are on hormonal contraception. It's not for those underweight, recently pregnant or breastfeeding, with certain phobias or allergies, conditions affecting appetite/weight like diabetes or thyroid disease, or on appetite-affecting meds.

Inclusion Criteria

Be willing to eat study-provided foods

Engage in loss of control eating at least 12 times in the last three months

Clinically significant eating disorder-related impairment (CIA > 15)

Exclusion Criteria

BMI < 18.5 kg/m^2

Recent pregnancy or breastfeeding (prior 6 months)

Specific phobia, blood-injection-injury type

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Study Visits

Participants engage in various exercise and rest conditions with or without breakfast across multiple study visits

1 week

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for energy intake, lactate levels, and self-reported binge eating after exercise/rest visits

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Fasted Exercise
• Fed Exercise
• Rest

Trial Overview The study explores how exercise affects appetite in women with uncontrolled eating by comparing their responses to exercising while fed versus fasted and resting without exercise. Participants will eat specific foods provided by the study during this process.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Rest, Fed Exercise, Fasted Exercise Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise). At Study Visit 3, participants will eat breakfast and exercise. At Study Visit 4, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise.

Group II: Rest, Fasted Exercise, Fed Exercise Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise). At Study Visit 3, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise. At Study Visit 4, participants will eat breakfast and exercise.

Group III: Fed Exercise, Rest, Fasted Exercise Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will eat breakfast and exercise. At Study Visit 3, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise). At Study Visit 4, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise.

Group IV: Fed Exercise, Fasted Exercise, Rest Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will eat breakfast and exercise. At Study Visit 3, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise. At Study Visit 4, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise).

Group V: Fasted Exercise, Rest, Fed Exercise Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise. At Study Visit 3, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise). At Study Visit 4, participants will eat breakfast and exercise.

Group VI: Fasted Exercise, Fed Exercise, Rest Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

At Study Visit 2, participants will abstain from breakfast and will engage in exercise. At Study Visit 3, participants will eat breakfast and exercise. At Study Visit 4, participants will eat breakfast and rest (abstain from exercise)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

73

Recruited

17,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 16-month study involving 114 obese women with binge eating disorder, those who added exercise to cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) showed significant reductions in binge eating frequency compared to those who only received CBT.

The group that combined CBT with exercise and maintenance achieved a 58% abstinence rate from binge eating and an average reduction of 2.2 BMI units (about 14 pounds), indicating that exercise and extended treatment duration improve outcomes for binge eating disorder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise augments the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of binge eating. Pendleton, VR., Goodrick, GK., Poston, WS., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 12 healthy males, postprandial exercise (exercise after eating) was found to suppress appetite more effectively than fasted exercise (exercise on an empty stomach).

Despite the differences in appetite suppression, both fasted and postprandial exercise resulted in a negative energy balance compared to a sedentary day, indicating that exercising for 60 minutes can help burn more calories than consumed, regardless of whether it is done before or after a meal.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Appetite, energy intake and resting metabolic responses to 60 min treadmill running performed in a fasted versus a postprandial state. Deighton, K., Zahra, JC., Stensel, DJ.[2012]

A scoping review of 10 studies and 6 reviews from 2021-2023 found that supervised and adapted physical activity (PAE) effectively managed dysfunctional exercise (DEx) in individuals with eating disorders, showing low-to-moderate health impacts and no adverse events.

For anorexia nervosa, PAE improved physical fitness without affecting body weight unless resistance training was included, while for bulimia nervosa, DEx decreased alongside increased functional exercise, highlighting the potential benefits of PAE in treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to address physical activity and exercise during treatment from eating disorders: a scoping review. Mathisen, TF., Hay, P., Bratland-Sanda, S.[2023]

A meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials involving 264 female participants found that exercise programs significantly improve symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED), with a large effect size (standardized mean difference of 0.94).

Both supervised and home-based exercise interventions were effective, suggesting that incorporating physical exercise into a comprehensive treatment plan for BED can be beneficial, although more research is needed to determine the best types of exercise for optimal results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treating Binge Eating Disorder With Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Raisi, A., Zerbini, V., Piva, T., et al.[2023]

In a study of 19 women with binge eating disorder (BED), both conventional treatment and combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise training (CAAET) led to significant reductions in binge episodes, weight, and body mass index after six months.

The CAAET group showed greater improvements in aerobic performance compared to the control group, suggesting that adding physical activity to conventional treatment may enhance long-term weight loss and symptom management in BED patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Binge Eating Disorder: What Is the Role of Physical Activity Associated with Dietary and Psychological Treatment? Galasso, L., Montaruli, A., Jankowski, KS., et al.[2021]

Physical exercise significantly contributes to weight loss in individuals with binge eating disorder, as evidenced by strong findings from eight studies reviewed.

Combining physical activity with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) leads to greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to CBT alone, highlighting the importance of integrating movement into treatment plans for binge eating disorder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The importance of movement-directed interventions in the multidisciplinary treatment of binge eating disorder: an overview]. Vancampfort, D., Vanderlinden, J., Pieters, G., et al.[2018]

Citations

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The effects of acute bouts of exercise in fasted vs. fed ... Exercise performed while fasted was associated with larger increases in glucose and insulin levels, along with larger decreases in FFA levels.

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-bulimia-nervosa-7-2024-74c9e

Exercise for Binge Eating Disorder Research shows that exercise can help reduce binge eating episodes and improve weight management in people with binge eating disorder. Adding exercise to ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4242477/

Body composition changes associated with fasted versus non ... In addition, regimented fasted training has been shown to promote superior improvements in whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity ...

4. jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-022-00685-9

Medical and physiological complications of exercise for ... This paper provides a comprehensive narrative review of the medical and physiological complications of engaging in exercise during ED treatment

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2411-5142/2/4/43

Effect of Overnight Fasted Exercise on Weight Loss and ... The data shows minimal changes in body mass and composition following aerobic exercise interventions in both fasted and fed states. Furthermore, performing ...

6. nationaleatingdisorders.org nationaleatingdisorders.org/

NEDA | Eating Disorders Support, Awareness & Recovery Access support, explore resources, join community events, and take a free eating disorders screening—start your recovery journey with NEDA!

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Intermittent fasting: consider the risks of disordered eating for ... In this issue of BMC Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology, Albosta et al. present a comprehensive review of the current literature as well as a ...