ObesityNCT06924346
Exercise Snacks in Obesity
A study testing Exercise Snacks in people with Obesity, run by University of British Columbia at 2 sites in Canada.
Trial summary
To conduct a randomized control trial to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week technology-enabled exercise snacks intervention with behaviour change counselling for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and various markers of cardiometabolic health in previously inactive adults living with… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 64 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity
- What is being tested?
- Exercise Snacks
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesCanada
- Study dates
- 14 Jul 2025to 13 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 35 to 64 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 35-64 years.
- Habitually engaging in < 150 min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week.
- Body mass index 30-45 kg/m2 or 27.5-45 for participants who self-identify as being of Asian or Southeast Asian origin.
- Waist circumference: >88cm for females and >102cm for males, or >80 cm for females and >90 cm for male participants who self-identify as being of Asian or Southeast Asian.
- Not currently diagnosed with a cardiometabolic disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
- Taking ≤2 commonly prescribed medications for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases (e.g., statins, antihypertensives).
Show all 10Show fewer
- Not a current smoker
- Cleared to engage in physical activity using the Get Active Questionnaire and, if applicable, consultation with a health care provider or Qualified Exercise Professional.
- Access to a computer, tablet or smartphone for intervention delivery and tracking.
- Ability to read and write in English.
Who cannot join
- Chronic musculoskeletal condition or recent (within 2 years) cardiovascular event preventing participation in exercise.
- Lack of internet access.
- Angina upon exertion assessed by the Rose Angina Questionnaire.
- Prescribed beta-blockers that can compromise the validity of heart rate measurements. during the exercise test.
- Have a scheduled surgical procedure within the next 3-4 months that would prevent exercise participation.
- Currently participating in another clinical trial that interferes with the study procedures.
- Currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant during the intervention (i.e., within the next 4 months).
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (>160/90 mmHg)
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Canada2 sites
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Kelowna, British Columbia
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Exercise Snacks in Real-World Settings in Individuals Living With Obesity
To conduct a randomized control trial to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week technology-enabled exercise snacks intervention with behaviour change counselling for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and various markers of cardiometabolic health in previously inactive adults living with obesity.
Read the detailed description
Participants will be randomized into an Exercise Snacks or a Placebo Exercise group for 12 weeks. The former will involve bodyweight exercises performed with vigorous effort and the latter will involve low-intensity stretching and mobility exercises. Following baseline testing, individualized interventions will be delivered via a customized mobile application ("app") or web platform. Participants will be instructed to perform a minimum of 4 isolated bouts of prescribed exercises per day on at least 5 days per week. Each bout will be one minute in duration. The interventions will be individualized and consider exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues), and be adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work). To facilitate this, participants will have a pre-intervention meeting wherein any physical limitations will be documented, and a research assistant trained in health behaviour change techniques will provide a brief exercise counselling session designed to individualize the intervention to the participant's preferences, abilities, and lifestyle. After 12 weeks, participants will be asked to return to the lab for follow-up testing.
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Being tested
- Exercise Snacks, Placebo Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise SnacksOther
The "movement breaks" will be individualized to exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues) and adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work) delivered via mobile phone application. Participants will be encouraged to incorporate the movement breaks into their daily schedule based on baseline exercise counselling.
Placebo ExerciseOther
The "movement breaks" will be individualized to exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues) and adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work) delivered via mobile phone application. Participants will be encouraged to incorporate the movement breaks into their daily schedule based on baseline exercise counselling.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Snacks | Experimental | Vigorous-intensity bodyweight exercises performed 4 times per day on at least 5 days per week. Receives: Other: Exercise Snacks |
| Placebo Exercise | Active comparator | Low-intensity stretching exercises performed 4 times per day on at least 5 days per week. Receives: Other: Placebo Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Determine the number of individuals living with obesity that are eligible to participate in the trial
The number of participants approached and reasons for not joining the study.
Measured: through study completion, an average of 18 months
Determine the number of eligible participants who would be willing to take part in this trial
The number of participants who enroll.
Measured: through study completion, an average of 18 months
Determine the number and percentage of participants retained after the 12-week intervention
Number and percentage of participants who drop-out and reasons.
Measured: after the 12-week intervention
Determine the number of one-minute exercise bouts performed during the 12-week intervention
Number of exercise bouts performed each week of the intervention.
Measured: during the 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (11)
Change in cardiorespiratory fitness measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Cardiorespiratory fitness will be measured using an incremental exercise test on a motorized treadmill at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in lower body muscular endurance before and after the 12-week intervention
The 30-second sit-to-stand will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in upper body maximal strength before and after the 12-week intervention
Grip strength test using a hand dynamometer will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in waist circumference before and after the 12-week intervention
Waist circumference will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in weight before and after the 12-week intervention
Weight will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in body mass index before and after the 12-week intervention
Body mass index will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in fasting glucose measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Fasting glucose will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in fasting insulin measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Fasting insulin will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in systolic blood pressure measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Seated systolic blood pressure will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in diastolic blood pressure measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Seated diastolic blood pressure will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Measured: 0-12 weeks
Change in physical activity assessed during the first and last weeks of the intervention
Physical activity measured using accelerometry during week 0 and week 12.
Measured: weeks 0 and 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Apr 2025
- Study start14 Jul 2025
- Primary completion13 Aug 2026
- Study completion13 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- McMaster University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jonathan Little, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06924346
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H24-OB-snacks
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 17 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
McCarthy SF, Harness E, Mulkewich N, Sandilands RE, Marcotte-Chenard A, Islam H, Richards DL, Madden K, Singer J, Jung M, Gibala MJ, Little JP. Exercise Snacks in Adults Living With Obesity: Protocol for a Randomized Feasibility Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Jun 12;15:e100108. doi: 10.2196/100108.
PubMed 42284592
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Exercise Snacks in Real-World Settings in Individuals Living With Obesity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06924346
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H24-OB-snacks
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- McMaster University
- Study start
- 14 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Aug 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
To conduct a randomized control trial to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week technology-enabled exercise snacks intervention with behaviour change counselling for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and various markers of cardiometabolic health in previously inactive adults living with obesity.
Detailed description
Participants will be randomized into an Exercise Snacks or a Placebo Exercise group for 12 weeks. The former will involve bodyweight exercises performed with vigorous effort and the latter will involve low-intensity stretching and mobility exercises. Following baseline testing, individualized interventions will be delivered via a customized mobile application ("app") or web platform. Participants will be instructed to perform a minimum of 4 isolated bouts of prescribed exercises per day on at least 5 days per week. Each bout will be one minute in duration. The interventions will be individualized and consider exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues), and be adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work). To facilitate this, participants will have a pre-intervention meeting wherein any physical limitations will be documented, and a research assistant trained in health behaviour change techniques will provide a brief exercise counselling session designed to individualize the intervention to the participant's preferences, abilities, and lifestyle. After 12 weeks, participants will be asked to return to the lab for follow-up testing.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Snacks | Experimental | Other: Exercise SnacksVigorous-intensity bodyweight exercises performed 4 times per day on at least 5 days per week. |
| Placebo Exercise | Active comparator | Other: Placebo ExerciseLow-intensity stretching exercises performed 4 times per day on at least 5 days per week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 64 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Aged 35-64 years.
- Habitually engaging in < 150 min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week.
- Body mass index 30-45 kg/m2 or 27.5-45 for participants who self-identify as being of Asian or Southeast Asian origin.
- Waist circumference: >88cm for females and >102cm for males, or >80 cm for females and >90 cm for male participants who self-identify as being of Asian or Southeast Asian.
- Not currently diagnosed with a cardiometabolic disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Chronic musculoskeletal condition or recent (within 2 years) cardiovascular event preventing participation in exercise.
- Lack of internet access.
- Angina upon exertion assessed by the Rose Angina Questionnaire.
- Prescribed beta-blockers that can compromise the validity of heart rate measurements. during the exercise test.
- Have a scheduled surgical procedure within the next 3-4 months that would prevent exercise participation.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise SnacksThe "movement breaks" will be individualized to exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues) and adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work) delivered via mobile phone application. Participants will be encouraged to incorporate the movement breaks into their daily schedule based on baseline exercise counselling. | Other | Exercise Snacks |
| Placebo ExerciseThe "movement breaks" will be individualized to exercise preferences and physical abilities (e.g., fitness, musculoskeletal issues) and adaptable to multiple environments (e.g., home, work) delivered via mobile phone application. Participants will be encouraged to incorporate the movement breaks into their daily schedule based on baseline exercise counselling. | Other | Placebo Exercise |
Primary outcome
Determine the number of individuals living with obesity that are eligible to participate in the trial
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 18 months
The number of participants approached and reasons for not joining the study.
Determine the number of eligible participants who would be willing to take part in this trial
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 18 months
The number of participants who enroll.
Determine the number and percentage of participants retained after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: after the 12-week intervention
Number and percentage of participants who drop-out and reasons.
Determine the number of one-minute exercise bouts performed during the 12-week intervention
Time frame: during the 12 weeks
Number of exercise bouts performed each week of the intervention.
11 secondary outcomes
Change in cardiorespiratory fitness measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in lower body muscular endurance before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in upper body maximal strength before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in waist circumference before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in weight before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in body mass index before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in fasting glucose measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in fasting insulin measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in systolic blood pressure measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in diastolic blood pressure measured before and after the 12-week intervention
Time frame: 0-12 weeks
Change in physical activity assessed during the first and last weeks of the intervention
Time frame: weeks 0 and 12
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Aug 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42284592McCarthy SF, Harness E, Mulkewich N, Sandilands RE, Marcotte-Chenard A, Islam H, Richards DL, Madden K, Singer J, Jung M, Gibala MJ, Little JP. Exercise Snacks in Adults Living With Obesity: Protocol for a Randomized Feasibility Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Jun 12;15:e100108. doi: 10.2196/100108.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise Snacks in people with Obesity, run by University of British Columbia at 2 sites in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Determine the number of individuals living with obesity that are eligible to participate in the trial (time frame: through study completion, an average of 18 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06924346, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Aug 2026.