CompletedNot Applicable

Effects of Cold-Water and Cold-Air Exercise on Appetite, Energy Intake, and Food Preference

United Kingdom11 participantsStarted 2025-01-07

Plain-language summary

This study investigated whether exercising in cold environments affects appetite, energy intake, and food preference compared with exercising in thermoneutral conditions. Eleven healthy males completed five laboratory trials as part of a crossover study: a control trial and four exercise trials performed in cold-water (16°C), thermoneutral water (35°C), cold-ambient air (6°C), and thermoneutral ambient air (26°C). Appetite responses were assessed throughout each trial, and participants were provided with an ad libitum meal after exercise to measure energy intake. Food preference was assessed using the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire. The study aimed to determine whether environmental temperature and exercise medium influence acute post-exercise eating behaviour.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

MALE

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: * Healthy males aged 18-65 years * Living in the UK * Recreationally active and meeting current physical activity guidelines * Body mass stable (\<2 kg change) during the 3 months prior to the study * Able to complete moderate-intensity arm-leg rowing exercise * Able to tolerate the cold-water familiarisation/tolerance test * Low cognitive restraint score on the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire Revised * 18-item (TFEQ-R18) * Able to consume the standardised breakfast and ad libitum pasta meal provided during the study * Able to provide written informed consent * Willing to complete study questionnaires and experimental assessments * Willing to undergo core temperature measurement via self-inserted rectal thermistor and body composition assessment Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, or renal disease, or symptoms suggestive of these conditions * Any contraindication to moderate-intensity exercise * Conditions increasing risk during cold exposure, including history of cold-induced asthma, Raynaud's phenomenon, cold urticaria, or other non-freezing cold injuries * Cold-habituated individuals (e.g., regular cold-water swimmers) * Current medication known to alter body weight or metabolism * Smoking, drug misuse, or alcohol abuse * Current musculoskeletal injury or condition that could be worsened by exercise * History of eating disorders or restrained eating behaviour * Shift work or sleep deprivation affecting study partic…

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

Post-exercise ad libitum energy intake

Timeframe: 30 minutes after completion of the 30-minute experimental/control condition.

Subjective appetite responses

Timeframe: Before and after breakfast, before the 30-minute experimental/control condition, during the 30-minute experimental/control condition, and before and after the ad libitum meal.

Food preference and food reward responses

Timeframe: 15 minutes after completion of each 30-minute experimental/control trial and 15-minutes before the ad libitum meal.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07681011

SponsorCoventry University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-07-02

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