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Effects of Interrupting Sedentary Time on Glycemic Control in Older Overweight and Obese Adults

Effects of Interrupting Sedentary Time on Glycemic Control in Older Overweight and Obese Adults

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01997021
Acronym
B-WELL
Enrollment
25
Registered
2013-11-27
Start date
2013-11-30
Completion date
2014-12-31
Last updated
2021-08-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, Aging

Keywords

Sedentary behavior, physical activity, older adults

Brief summary

Increasing physical activity in older adults has important implications for treating obesity related metabolic conditions, however the interaction of aging- and obesity-related declines in physical function may make adding structured exercise particularly challenging for this group. Given these challenges, an alternative prescription to traditional structured exercise, may be short bouts of intermittent walking scattered throughout the day - this may be an effective strategy to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behavior, and improve glycemic control in overweight/obese older adults. The purpose of this project is to determine how interrupting sedentary time with short bouts of moderate intensity walking affects important metabolic outcomes in older, overweight adults. It would also be of interest to compare the effects of short, frequent interruptions in sedentary behavior to a traditional exercise prescription (continuous 30 min walking bout) on metabolic outcomes (e.g., glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and 24 h fat oxidation). Thus, the overall aims of the proposed research are to 1) Determine the effect of performing short bouts of moderate-intensity intermittent walking (IW) on glucose and insulin metabolism compared to uninterrupted sitting (US) in older overweight and obese adults. 2) To compare the effects of interrupting sedentary time (IW) vs. a traditional exercise prescription (continuous 30 m walk (CW)) on metabolism. The investigators hypothesize that interrupting sedentary time with intermittent walking will improve glucose and insulin metabolism compared to uninterrupted sitting and it will be as effective at improving metabolism as a single continuous 30 min walk.

Interventions

OTHERUS

US is a 5-hour intervention/condition where participants will be required to sit quietly for 5 consecutive hours.

OTHERIW

IW is a 24-hour intervention/condition where participants interrupt sedentary time with short 1.5 minute walking bout.

OTHERCW

CW is a 24-hour intervention/condition where participants perform a 36 minute continuous walking bout and are seated the remainder of the time.

Sponsors

University of Colorado, Denver
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Aged 60-85 yr • BMI 25-35 kg.m-2 * Non-exercisers (\<150 m/wk of moderate intensity exercise) * Sedentary (\>60% of waking day sedentary) * Able to walk on a treadmill for 36 continuous minutes at a pace of at least 2.0 mph

Exclusion criteria

* Self-reported acute or chronic disease (e.g. diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease) * Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl - participants will not be excluded if they an abnormal post prandial glucose levels (e.g. glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl) following the MTT's. * Tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco) within the past 6 months * Females who previously used (\> 6 months) or are currently using any formulation of estrogen-based hormone therapy (e.g., oral Premarin, transdermal 17-estradiol, selective estrogen receptor modulators). * Resting diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mm mercury or resting systolic blood pressure \> 160 mm mercury * Contra-indications to exercise (e.g. orthopedic limitations) * Unable to walk on a treadmill for 36 continuous minutes at a pace of at least 2.0 mph

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incremental area under the glucose curve in response to meal tolerance test (MTT)Hourly for 5 hours after meal is consumedMeal tolerance test is performed during uninterrupted sitting condition and during intermittent walking condition. Glucose area under the curve (AUC) is compared between conditions.
Area under the insulin curve in response to meal tolerance testHourly for 5 hours after meal is consumedMeal tolerance test is performed during uninterrupted sitting condition and during intermittent walking condition. Insulin AUC is compared between conditions.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postprandial glycemia in response to meal tolerance testContinuously for 5 hours after meal is consumedPostprandial glycemia (PPG) will be measured using a continuous glucose monitor. Peak PPG, rate of change in peak PPG and duration of hyperglycemia will be calculated. Meal tolerance test will be performed during uninterrupted sitting condition and during intermittent walking condition. PPG will be compared between conditions.
Insulin sensitivityImmediately post 24 hr intermittent walking and continuous walking conditionsInsulin sensitivity will be measured using a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. IS will be assessed after intermittent walking condition and after continuous walk condition. IS will be compared between conditions.
24-hr Fat OxidationContinuously during 24 hr intermittent walking and continuous walking conditionsFat oxidation will be measured in a whole room indirect calorimeter during the intermittent walking condition and during the continuous walk condition. Fat oxidation will be compared between conditions.
24-hour Glycemic variabilityContinuously during 24 hr intermittent walking and continuous walking conditionsGlycemic variability will be measured using a continuous glucose monitor during the intermittent walking condition and during the continuous walk condition. Glycemic variability will be compared between conditions.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026