Effects of Different Exercises on Energy Metabolism and Muscle Activation in Normal-Weight and Overweight Students

Shanxi Normal University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Energy Expenditure

Treatments: Behavioral: 162 step frequency; Behavioral: 198 step frequency; Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07147985

2025-0505

Details and patient eligibility

About

This clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of different exercise modalities on energy metabolism and muscle activation in both normal-weight and overweight university students.

The main question it aims to answer is:

Compared to normal-weight university students, does slow jogging at different step frequencies reduce body weight and increase energy expenditure (and metabolic rate) in overweight university students? Compared to normal-weight university students, does slow jogging at different step frequencies enhance muscle activation effects in overweight university students?

Researchers will compare three distinct step frequencies during slow jogging (162, 180, and 198 steps per minute) to determine which exercise modality is potentially more effective for increasing energy expenditure and metabolic rate.

Participants will:

Participants will sequentially undergo three separate testing sessions, each involving ultra-slow running at one of the three step frequencies (162, 180, or 198 steps per minute).

Testing sessions will occur once per week in the laboratory.

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 23 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Aged 18 to 23 years old;
2. BMI between 24.0 kg/m² and 27.9 kg/m² ;
3. No participation in any structured weight loss or weight control interventions (including exercise programs, pharmacological agents, or dietary regimens) within the preceding three months;
4. Cleared for exercise participation with no identified risks, as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q);
5. Willing and able to comply fully with the experimental protocol, including completion of all training sessions and required measurements;
6. Provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, anemia, or any other contraindications to exercise (e.g., dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath);
2. Immune dysfunction or severe hepatic or renal insufficiency;
3. Unhealthy habits, such as regular smoking or excessive alcohol consumption;
4. Current use of prescription medication (excluding contraceptives or incidental short-term medications, if specified and approved by the study investigators);
5. Coagulation disorders or a significant bleeding tendency.

Withdrawal and Termination Criteria:

1. Voluntary withdrawal from the study or discontinuation for any other reason;
2. Poor compliance, defined as failure to follow instructions or complete assigned tasks as required by the protocol;
3. Experiencing severe exercise intolerance or adverse reactions to the intervention.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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38 participants in 6 patient groups

Step frequency group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 162 steps per minute; Second test: 180 steps per minute; Third test: 198 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency

Step frequency group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 162 steps per minute; Second test: 198 steps per minute; Third test: 180 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency

Step frequency group 3

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 180 steps per minute; Second test: 162 steps per minute; Third test: 198 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency

Step frequency group 4

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 180 steps per minute; Second test: 198 steps per minute; Third test: 162 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency

Step frequency group 5

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 198 steps per minute; Second test: 162 steps per minute; Third test: 180 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency

Step frequency group 6

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive step frequency in the following order: First test: 198 steps per minute; Second test: 180 steps per minute; Third test: 162 steps per minute.

Treatment:

Behavioral: 180 step frequency

Behavioral: 198 step frequency

Behavioral: 162 step frequency