Energy BalanceNCT07444021
Effect of Resistance Exercise on Energy Balance and Appetite Regulation in Males and Females
A study testing resistance exercise (males) and resistance exercise (females) in people with Energy Balance and Energy Expenditure, run by National Taiwan Normal University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
There is growing evidence that males and females may exhibit different acute responses and long-term adaptations to exercise training. Accordingly, contemporary exercise physiology research increasingly recognizes sex as an important biological variable that may influence appetite regulation and energy balance. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Energy Balance, Energy Expenditure, Males and Females
- What is being tested?
- resistance exercise (males) and resistance exercise (females)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2025to 30 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 20 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy males and females aged 20-30 years
- Females with a regular menstrual cycle
- Stable body weight, defined as no significant change in body weight during the past 6 months
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Obesity, defined as:
- Body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m²
- Body fat percentage > 25% in males
- Body fat percentage > 30% in females
- Hypertension, defined as resting blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg
- History of cardiovascular disease
Show all 10Show fewer
- History of cancer
- History of liver disease
- History of kidney disease
- Presence of any medical condition that may interfere with study outcomes
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei, 106
Hung-Wen Liu, Ph.D., +886 0277496863, hwliu@ntnu.edu.tw
About this study
There is growing evidence that males and females may exhibit different acute responses and long-term adaptations to exercise training. Accordingly, contemporary exercise physiology research increasingly recognizes sex as an important biological variable that may influence appetite regulation and energy balance.
This year's project aims to investigate: (1) appetite regulation and energy balance following acute resistance exercise, and (2) potential sex-based differences in appetite regulation and energy balance in response to resistance exercise.
Understanding both the overall effects of resistance exercise and sex-related variability in these responses is important for improving the physiological interpretation of exercise-induced changes in appetite and energy balance. Such knowledge may help to reduce heterogeneity in exercise research findings and support the development of more precise, evidence-based exercise prescriptions that are applicable to both males and females.
- Being tested
- resistance exercise (males), resistance exercise (females)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
resistance exercise (males)Other
Resistance exercises are in the following order: squat, bench press, deadlift. Each exercise consists of 3 sets with 7 repetitions, using a load of 70% 1RM with 120 sec of rest between sets.
resistance exercise (females)Other
During the early follicular phase, participants completed a standardized resistance exercise protocol consisting of squat, bench press, and deadlift, performed in a fixed order. Each exercise comprised three sets of seven repetitions at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), with 120 s of rest between sets.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| males | Experimental | Resistance exercises are in the following order: squat, bench press, deadlift. Each exercise consists of 3 sets with 7 repetitions, using a load of 70% 1RM with 120 sec of rest between sets. Receives: Other: resistance exercise (males) |
| males control | No intervention | Participants remained seated at rest during the control trial. |
| females exercise | Experimental | During the early follicular phase, participants performed resistance exercises in the following order: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each exercise consisted of three sets of seven repetitions performed at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), with 120 s of rest between sets. Receives: Other: resistance exercise (females) |
| females control | No intervention | During the early follicular phase, participants remained seated at rest during the control trial. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Subjective appetite
The appetite perceptions are obtained through a 0-100 mm visual analog scale. The variables assessed include perceptions of hunger (i.e., "How hungry do you feel?"), satisfaction (i.e., "How satisfied do you feel?"), fullness (i.e., "How full do you feel?"), prospective food consumption (i.e., "How much do you think you can eat?"), and nausea (i.e., "How nauseous do you feel?"), with 0 indicating "not at all" and 100 signifying "extremely.".
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Change in acyl-Ghrelin
acyl-Ghrelin in pg/mL
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Change in PYY
PYY in pg/mL
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Change in lactate
lactate in mmol/L
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Energy intake
Participants will be required to record their diet for the day before, the current day (include following exercise ad-libitum), and the day following the experiment. The energy intake include absolute energy intake and relative energy intake .
Measured: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
change in Cortisol
Cortisol mcg/dL
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Energy expenditure
Energy expenditure will include resting energy expenditure (REE), exercise energy expenditure, and non-exercise energy expenditure. REE will be measured using indirect calorimetry (MetaLyzer 3B; VO₂ and VCO₂ exchange). Exercise energy expenditure will be recorded during the resistance exercise session, and non-exercise energy expenditure will be assessed using an accelerometer. Total energy expenditure will be calculated as the sum of these components.
Measured: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Energy Balance
Energy balance will be calculated as total energy intake (EI) minus total energy expenditure (TEE).
Total energy intake will include energy consumed during the laboratory ad-libitum meal and energy intake recorded outside the laboratory during the monitoring period.
Total energy expenditure will include resting energy expenditure, exercise energy expenditure, and non-exercise energy expenditure, as previously described.
Energy balance will be expressed in kilocalories (kcal), with positive values indicating energy surplus and negative values indicating energy deficit.
Measured: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Secondary outcomes (13)
Leeds food preference questionnaire
Explicit liking A visual analog scale ranging from 0 to 100 mm is utilized to evaluate the question, "How pleasant would it be to taste some of this food now?" with 0 indicating "not at all" and 100 signifying "extremely."
Explicit wanting A visual analog scale ranging from 0 to 100 mm is utilized to evaluate the question, "How much do you want some of this food now?" with 0 indicating "not at all" and 100 signifying "extremely."
Implicit wanting Participants are given a set of food image pairs and are asked to select their preference by answering the question, "Which food do you desire the most at the moment?". The implicit wanting calculation involves further consideration of response time data based on preference choices using a standardized equation.
Relative preference Participants are given a set of food image pairs and are asked to select their preference by answering the question, "Which food do you desire the most at the moment?".
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Leeds food preference questionnaire
Taste appeal bias Taste preference (savoury or sweet) is calculated by subtracting the mean savory scores from the mean sweet scores. Positive values suggest a preference for sweet foods, while negative scores indicate a preference for savory foods, and a score of 0 signifies an equal preference between taste categories.
Fat appeal bias Fat preference (high or low) is calculated by subtracting the mean low-fat scores from the mean high-fat scores. Positive values suggest a preference for high-fat foods, while negative scores indicate a preference for low-fat or savory foods, and a score of 0 signifies an equal preference between fat content.
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
10 Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) will be assessed using the Borg Category-Ratio 10 (CR10) scale during resistance exercise.
The scale ranges from 1 to 10, where 1 indicates very light exertion and 10 indicates maximal exertion. Higher scores represent greater perceived exercise intensity.
Measured: 1-hour during each exercise intervention
Heart rate (HR)
HR will be measured during each study intervention. HRV (Heart Rate Variability) will be measured during each study intervention.
Measured: 3-hour during each study intervention
Estradiol (E2)
Estradiol (E2) concentration in pg/mL, measured from blood samples. Baseline measurements will be used to confirm menstrual cycle phase for each trial.
Measured: Baseline for each trial (female participants only).
Progesterone (P4)
Progesterone (P4) concentration in ng/mL (or nmol/L), measured from blood samples. Baseline hormone levels will be assessed at each trial.
Measured: Baseline for each trial (female participants only).
Concentric Peak Velocity
Concentric peak velocity (m/s) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition.
Concentric Mean Velocity
Concentric mean velocity (m/s) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Eccentric Peak Velocity
Eccentric peak velocity (m/s) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Concentric Mean Power
Concentric mean power (W) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Relative Concentric Mean Power
Mean concentric power normalized to body mass (W/kg) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Concentric Work
Concentric work (J) will be measured using the Gymaware system during resistance exercise.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Velocity Loss
Velocity loss (%) across sets during resistance exercise will be calculated using data obtained from the Gymaware system.
Measured: During each exercise condition
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2025
- Primary completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Energy BalanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07444021
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202412HM018
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Resistance Exercise on Energy Balance and Appetite Regulation in Males and Females
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07444021
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 202412HM018
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Mar 2026 (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.
There is growing evidence that males and females may exhibit different acute responses and long-term adaptations to exercise training. Accordingly, contemporary exercise physiology research increasingly recognizes sex as an important biological variable that may influence appetite regulation and energy balance.
This year's project aims to investigate: (1) appetite regulation and energy balance following acute resistance exercise, and (2) potential sex-based differences in appetite regulation and energy balance in response to resistance exercise.
Understanding both the overall effects of resistance exercise and sex-related variability in these responses is important for improving the physiological interpretation of exercise-induced changes in appetite and energy balance. Such knowledge may help to reduce heterogeneity in exercise research findings and support the development of more precise, evidence-based exercise prescriptions that are applicable to both males and females.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| males | Experimental | Other: resistance exercise (males)Resistance exercises are in the following order: squat, bench press, deadlift. Each exercise consists of 3 sets with 7 repetitions, using a load of 70% 1RM with 120 sec of rest between sets. |
| males control | No intervention | –Participants remained seated at rest during the control trial. |
| females exercise | Experimental | Other: resistance exercise (females)During the early follicular phase, participants performed resistance exercises in the following order: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each exercise consisted of three sets of seven repetitions performed at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), with 120 s of rest between sets. |
| females control | No intervention | –During the early follicular phase, participants remained seated at rest during the control trial. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Healthy males and females aged 20-30 years
- Females with a regular menstrual cycle
- Stable body weight, defined as no significant change in body weight during the past 6 months
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Obesity, defined as:
- Body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m²
- Body fat percentage > 25% in males
- Body fat percentage > 30% in females
- Hypertension, defined as resting blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| resistance exercise (males)Resistance exercises are in the following order: squat, bench press, deadlift. Each exercise consists of 3 sets with 7 repetitions, using a load of 70% 1RM with 120 sec of rest between sets. | Other | males |
| resistance exercise (females)During the early follicular phase, participants completed a standardized resistance exercise protocol consisting of squat, bench press, and deadlift, performed in a fixed order. Each exercise comprised three sets of seven repetitions at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM), with 120 s of rest between sets. | Other | females exercise |
Primary outcome
Subjective appetite
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
The appetite perceptions are obtained through a 0-100 mm visual analog scale. The variables assessed include perceptions of hunger (i.e., "How hungry do you feel?"), satisfaction (i.e., "How satisfied do you feel?"), fullness (i.e., "How full do you feel?"), prospective food consumption (i.e., "How much do you think you can eat?"), and nausea (i.e., "How nauseous do you feel?"), with 0 indicating "not at all" and 100 signifying "extremely.".
Change in acyl-Ghrelin
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
acyl-Ghrelin in pg/mL
Change in PYY
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
PYY in pg/mL
Change in lactate
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
lactate in mmol/L
Energy intake
Time frame: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Participants will be required to record their diet for the day before, the current day (include following exercise ad-libitum), and the day following the experiment. The energy intake include absolute energy intake and relative energy intake .
change in Cortisol
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Cortisol mcg/dL
Energy expenditure
Time frame: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Energy expenditure will include resting energy expenditure (REE), exercise energy expenditure, and non-exercise energy expenditure. REE will be measured using indirect calorimetry (MetaLyzer 3B; VO₂ and VCO₂ exchange). Exercise energy expenditure will be recorded during the resistance exercise session, and non-exercise energy expenditure will be assessed using an accelerometer. Total energy expenditure will be calculated as the sum of these components.
Energy Balance
Time frame: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Energy balance will be calculated as total energy intake (EI) minus total energy expenditure (TEE). Total energy intake will include energy consumed during the laboratory ad-libitum meal and energy intake recorded outside the laboratory during the monitoring period. Total energy expenditure will include resting energy expenditure, exercise energy expenditure, and non-exercise energy expenditure, as previously described. Energy balance will be expressed in kilocalories (kcal), with positive values indicating energy surplus and negative values indicating energy deficit.
13 secondary outcomes
Leeds food preference questionnaire
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Leeds food preference questionnaire
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
10 Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Time frame: 1-hour during each exercise intervention
Heart rate (HR)
Time frame: 3-hour during each study intervention
Estradiol (E2)
Time frame: Baseline for each trial (female participants only).
Progesterone (P4)
Time frame: Baseline for each trial (female participants only).
Concentric Peak Velocity
Time frame: During each exercise condition.
Concentric Mean Velocity
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Eccentric Peak Velocity
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Concentric Mean Power
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Relative Concentric Mean Power
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Concentric Work
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Velocity Loss
Time frame: During each exercise condition
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Mar 2026.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing resistance exercise (males) and resistance exercise (females) in people with Energy Balance and Energy Expenditure, run by National Taiwan Normal University at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 4 inclusion and 10 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Hung-wen Liu, Ph.D. (+886 0277496863, hwliu@ntnu.edu.tw), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Subjective appetite (time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 2 Mar 2026.