Chilly workouts may alter what you eat, small study suggests
NCT ID NCT07681011
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.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Centre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Research Laboratory, Coventry University
Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
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