UnknownNot Applicable

The Effects of Interrupting Prolonged Sitting With Bouts of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Function in Obesity

United States45 participantsStarted 2021-05-03

Plain-language summary

It is projected that by 2030 almost 50% of adults in the USA will have obesity. High sedentariness and physical inactivity contribute to the obesity pandemic. Neurocognitive deficits compound the global burden of obesity. Specifically, adults with obesity underperform on tasks of executive functioning, which underpin goal-directed behavior and have been linked to occupational success. Growing evidence suggests poorer executive functioning among more sedentary adults. Emergent studies have shown that accumulating sedentary time in prolonged bouts (e.g., remaining sedentary continuously 20 min or more) may decrease the ability to control distractions along with working memory. Interrupting prolonged sitting with brief bouts of physical activity is an effective strategy to improve postprandial glucose metabolism. However, the effects of this simple intervention on neural processes supporting executive functioning remain unknown. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to test the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with frequent (every 30 min) but brief (3 min) physical activity bouts on inhibitory control, working memory, and their neuroelectric indices (N2, P3a, and P3b components of event-related brain potentials). Our secondary aim is to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with physical activity on cognitive and brain function through glucose metabolism and insulin physiology. Findings from this study will help advance our understanding of how restructuring sedentary time may help improve cognitive and brain functions among adults with obesity.

Who can participate

Age range

21 Years – 64 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * • Informed consent * Age 21-64 years * BMI within ≥ 30 and \< 40 kg/m2 range * Pre-menopausal * Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) \< 100 mg/dL * Resting blood pressure: systolic \< 160 mmHg or diastolic \< 100 mmHg * Employed in sedentary occupation (i.e., participants reporting sitting on average 6 h/d on a weekday and with objectively assessed sitting time ≥ 8 h/day) * Physically inactive (i.e., engaging in \< 150 min of moderate or \< 75 min of vigorous or any combination of the two intensities per week) * Participants must have had no prior diagnosis of cognitive or physical disability (e.g., ADHD, severe asthma, epilepsy, chronic kidney disease, or dependence upon a wheelchair/walking aid) * Free of medication that could affect cognitive function or metabolism * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the minimal 20/20 standard in order to complete the cognitive task (below 20/20 vision) * Must be able to engage in vigorous exercise * Fluency in English Exclusion Criteria: * • Impaired glucose tolerance defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) \< 100 mg/dL * Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood glucose values ≥ 200 mg/dL * Participants with any psychiatric, neurological or metabolic disorder * Participants who have or are currently taking the medication that could affect cognitive function, metabolism or weight status * Participants with substance abuse * Participants with a standardized score on the test o…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Neuroelectric measures of inhibitory control - P3 component of event-related potentials (ERPs)

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Neuroelectric measures of inhibitory control - N2 component of event-related potentials (ERPs)

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Inhibitory control measured with a modified flanker task - accuracy

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Inhibitory control measured with a modified flanker task - reaction time

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Neuroelectric measures of working memory - P3-ERP component

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Working memory measured with an n-back task - accuracy

Timeframe: Assessed immediately before and after the intervention (on the same day as intervention)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04926207

SponsorUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-05-31

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