Exercise for Stress-Related Eating

Overseen By Kristina T Legget, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Bariatric surgery, MRI contraindications, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 14

132 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how common lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, affect how our brains respond to performing thinking tasks and to viewing pictures of foods and various other objects. The investigators are also interested in how changes in hormones that might be different in men and women could affect how lifestyle interventions change these brain responses.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise, Physical Activity, Workout, Fitness Training for stress-related eating?

Research shows that exercise can be a helpful part of treatment for eating disorders, as it is effective for many psychological health issues and can be included in treatment plans to improve outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is exercise generally safe for humans, even if evaluated for different conditions?

Exercise is generally safe for humans, but it can have complications for individuals with eating disorders, such as affecting energy levels, heart health, and hormone balance. It's important to consider individual health conditions and consult with healthcare providers to ensure exercise is safe and appropriate. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

How does exercise as a treatment for stress-related eating differ from other treatments?

Exercise is unique in managing stress-related eating because it can reduce stress and potentially decrease the consumption of unhealthy foods by altering physiological responses, such as lowering stress hormones like cortisol. Unlike medications, exercise offers a natural way to manage stress and its effects on eating behavior without the need for drugs. ^{10 11 12 13 14}

Research Team

Kristina T. Legget, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for veterans struggling with obesity and stress-related eating behaviors. Participants should be able to perform physical activities as the study involves exercise interventions.

Inclusion Criteria

Physically inactive

BMI of 25 or greater

I can go to Aurora, CO for study visits.

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to pass screening graded exercise treadmill test

Currently pregnant

I cannot have an MRI due to weight, claustrophobia, or having metal/electronic implants.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete initial assessments including serum cortisol response, BOLD response to visual food cues, heart rate response, body fat, and body weight measurements

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants either engage in 4 aerobic exercise sessions per week or continue usual activities for 12 weeks

12 weeks

12 visits (in-person, weekly)

Post-Intervention Assessment

Participants complete follow-up assessments including serum cortisol response, BOLD response to visual food cues, heart rate response, body fat, and body weight measurements

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any long-term effects of the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise

Trial Overview The study is examining how exercise affects brain responses during cognitive tasks and when viewing food images, considering hormonal differences between genders that may influence these effects.

Participant Groups

Group I: Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will complete 4 aerobic exercise training sessions per week for 12 weeks. The exercise program will begin at 15 minutes per session and duration will be gradually increased by 5 minutes each week until you reach 45 minutes per session. Exercise will be performed at a "moderate to vigorous "intensity, which will be about 60-70% of your predicted maximal level. Participants will meet with study personnel once per week.

Group II: Usual activity Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will keep doing what they usually do for the 12-week intervention period. They will be asked not to change their usual physical activity levels during this period. They will meet with study personnel once per week

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Findings from Research

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is physical exercise and dietary therapy a feasible alternative to cognitive behavior therapy in treatment of eating disorders? A randomized controlled trial of two group therapies. [2020]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity and exercise dependence during inpatient treatment of longstanding eating disorders: an exploratory study of excessive and non-excessive exercisers. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in Eating Disorders Treatment: Systematic Review and Proposal of Guidelines. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to address physical activity and exercise during treatment from eating disorders: a scoping review. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise in dietary restrained women: no effect on energy intake but change in hedonic ratings. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patterns of maladaptive exercise behavior from ages 14-24 in a longitudinal cohort. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of exercise on appetite control: implications for energy balance. [2019]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medical and physiological complications of exercise for individuals with an eating disorder: A narrative review. [2023]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Affective profiles of exercise episodes are associated with maladaptive and adaptive motivations for exercise. [2023]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Joint associations of regular exercise and healthy diet with psychobiological stress reactivity in a healthy male sample. [2022]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceived stress, behavior, and body mass index among adults participating in a worksite obesity prevention program, Seattle, 2005-2007. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of antecedent exercise on the acute stress response and subsequent food consumption: a preliminary investigation. [2021]

13. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Role for Exercise in Attenuating Unhealthy Food Consumption in Response to Stress. [2018]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceived stress and eating behaviors by sex, obesity status, and stress vulnerability: findings from the vitamins and lifestyle (VITAL) study. [2022]