Chilly workouts may alter what you eat, small study suggests

NCT ID NCT07681011

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

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Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
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Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Jul 02, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study investigates whether exercising in cold water (16°C) or cold air (6°C) affects appetite, how much people eat afterward, and their food preferences compared to exercising in warmer conditions. Eleven healthy males completed five different sessions, including rest and exercise in cold and thermoneutral environments. The goal is to understand if environmental temperature influences eating behavior after exercise.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If cold-environment exercise consistently alters appetite or food choices, this could inform strategies for managing post-exercise eating behavior.
What could go wrong
This is a small crossover study in only 11 healthy males, so findings may not apply to women, other ages, or real-world settings. Results are exploratory and may not lead to practical recommendations.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

11 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2025

Finished

Jul 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Male participants only

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

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 participation * Unable to fast before experimental sessions * Unable to tolerate the cold-water familiarisation/tolerance procedure * Unable to consume the foods provided as part of the standardised breakfast or ad libitum meal due to dietary restrictions or allergies * Unable to commit to study requirements

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Food Preferences

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Centre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Research Laboratory, Coventry University

    Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom

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