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OverweightNCT07558421

The Effects of Exercise Snacks on Endothelial Function and Body Composition in Overweight Individuals

A study testing Short-term stair climbing exercise snack group, Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack group and Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT) in people with Overweight and Obesity, run by Weifang Medical University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of two types of stair-climbing exercise snacks versus moderate-intensity continuous training on vascular health, body composition, and blood lipids in overweight or obese adults. Participants will be assigned to one of four groups for 6-8 weeks. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 35 years
Conditions the study is for
Overweight, Obesity
What is being tested?
Short-term stair climbing exercise snack group, Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack group and Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
16 Apr 2026to 20 Jul 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 18 to 35 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age: 18-35 years old (male, female);
  • Clear consciousness, stable vital signs;
  • Able to understand and follow simple instructions;
  • No regular exercise for at least 3 months;
  • BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2.

Who cannot join

  • There are other serious diseases, such as tumors;
  • There are other neurological diseases;
  • There are serious diseases that simultaneously affect the heart, liver, kidneys, endocrine system or hematopoietic system;
  • There is a history of alcohol or drug abuse;
  • Participated in other clinical trials that might affect the results of this study;
  • There are other neurological or musculoskeletal diseases, with pain worsening with exercise;
Show all 13Show fewer
  • It is forbidden to engage in physical training.
  • Within the past 3 months, there have been acute cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction,unstable angina pectoris, severe arrhythmia, acute heart failure, etc.;
  • Uncontrolled hypertension;
  • Severe pulmonary diseases, such as uncontrolled asthma, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease with significant exercise limitation;
  • Severe joint and bone diseases, acute soft tissue injuries, fractures that have not healed, etc., making it impossible to complete the prescribed exercise load;
  • Presence of bleeding tendencies, coagulation dysfunction, or within the past 1 month, there has been major bleeding or a history of surgery;
  • The investigator judges that there are any other situations that may affect the safety of the subjects or the results of the trial.

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of two types of stair-climbing exercise snacks versus moderate-intensity continuous training on vascular health, body composition, and blood lipids in overweight or obese adults. Participants will be assigned to one of four groups for 6-8 weeks. The control group receives no exercise intervention. Primary outcomes include endothelial function (ultrasound), body composition (InBody), and lipid profile (blood test).

Read the detailed description

This is a parallel group randomized controlled trial, with the study subjects being overweight or obese adults (with a body mass index of ≥ 24 kg/m²). Participants will be recruited from universities and randomly assigned to one of the following four groups:

Short-term stair climbing exercise group Participants climbed the stairs 4 to 5 times a day, each time ascending 5 floors (approximately 1 minute each time). There was at least a 1-hour interval between each exercise session, and the exercises were carried out during daily activities. They exercised 3 to 5 times a week for 6 to 8 weeks.

Long-term stair climbing nutrition supplementation group The participants also conducted 4 to 5 stair climbing training sessions every day. Each training session consisted of 3 sets of climbing 5 floors (the total climbing height for each training session was 15 floors), with a rest period of no more than 1 minute between each set. The interval between two training sessions was no less than 1 hour. They exercised 3 to 5 times a week for 6 to 8 weeks.

Moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT) Participants engaged in 30-minute moderate-intensity running (including warm-up and cool-down activities) each time, 3 to 5 times a week, for 6 to 8 weeks.

Control group Participants maintained their daily activities and did not receive any exercise intervention measures.

Result measurement indicators:

Vascular health: Assessing endothelial function through ultrasound measurement of flow-mediated vascular dilation (FMD).

Body composition: Measured using the InBody body bioelectrical impedance analyzer (including muscle mass, fat mass and body fat percentage).

Blood lipid test: Collect fasting blood samples and measure low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC).

Measurement time points: Measurements were conducted at the baseline (at the beginning of the study), 3-4 weeks (during the intervention period), and 8 weeks (after the intervention ended).

This research protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shandong Second Medical University. All participants are required to sign a written informed consent form.

Conditions
Overweight, Obesity
Being tested
Short-term stair climbing exercise snack group, Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack group, Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT)
Medical subject headings
Overweight, Obesity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Short-term stair climbing exercise snack groupBehavioural

    Adopt a fragmented approach, climbing stairs 4-5 times a day, each time climbing 5 floors (approximately 1 minute per session), with at least 1 hour of interval between each session, and spread throughout the daily activity periods. Exercise 3-5 days per week for a total of 6-8 weeks.

  • Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack groupBehavioural

    On the basis of climbing stairs 4 to 5 times a day, increase the single exercise volume: complete 2 or 3 sets of climbing 5 floors of stairs each time (that is, the total number of floors climbed each time is 10 or 15), with no more than 1 minute of rest between sets. The intervals between each exercise should be at least 1 hour. Exercise 3 to 5 days a week, for a total of 6 to 8 weeks of intervention.

  • Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT)Behavioural

    Exercise 3 to 5 days per week for a total of 6 to 8 weeks. Perform 30 minutes of moderate-intensity running training every day.

Study groups in NCT07558421
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Short-term stair climbing exercise snack groupExperimentalParticipants perform short climbs of the stairs 4 to 5 times a day. Each climb involves going up 5 floors (approximately 1 minute), and there is a minimum interval of at least 1 hour between each climb.
Receives: Behavioral: Short-term stair climbing exercise snack group
Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack groupExperimentalParticipants climbed the ladder 4 to 5 times a day. Each climb consisted of 2 to 3 sets (each set involved climbing 5 floors, with a rest period of no more than 1 minute between sets), and the total number of floors climbed in a single session was 10 or 15.
Receives: Behavioral: Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack group
Moderate-intensity continuous exerciseExperimentalThe participants engaged in moderate-intensity running training for 3 to 5 days per week, with each session lasting for 30 minutes.
Receives: Behavioral: Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT)
control groupNo interventionThe participants did not undergo any form of exercise intervention and maintained their usual activity patterns.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD, relative percentage)

    Flow-mediated dilation expressed as a percentage of the baseline brachial artery diameter.Unit of Measure: %

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  2. Body fat mass

    Body fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device). Unit of Measure: kg

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  3. Time to peak dilation

    Time required to reach maximal dilation after cuff deflation.Unit of Measure: seconds

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  4. Basal brachial artery diameter

    Baseline diameter of the brachial artery before cuff inflation.Unit of Measure: mm

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  5. Peak brachial artery diameter

    Maximal diameter of the brachial artery after reactive hyperemia.Unit of Measure: mm

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  6. Absolute flow-mediated dilation (FMDabs)

    Absolute change in diameter, calculated as peak diameter minus basal diameter.Unit of Measure: mm

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  7. Standardized FMD

    Flow-mediated dilation adjusted for relevant covariates (e.g., shear stress, baseline diameter) according to standard protocols.Unit of Measure: %

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  8. Body weight

    Body weight measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: kg

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  9. Body fat percentage

    Body fat percentage measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: %

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  10. Body mass index (BMI)

    Body mass index calculated from weight and height measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: kg/m²

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  11. Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

    Basal metabolic rate estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: kcal

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  12. Waist circumference

    Waist circumference measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: cm

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  13. Visceral fat area

    Visceral fat area measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device). Unit of Measure: cm²

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  14. Skeletal muscle mass

    Skeletal muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody device).Unit of Measure: kg

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Systolic blood pressure (SBP)

    Systolic blood pressure measured using an electronic sphygmomanometer.Unit of Measure: mmHg

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  2. Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration

    Fasting serum HDL cholesterol concentration measured from blood samples. Unit of Measure: mmol/L

    Measured: Measured at baseline and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  3. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)

    Diastolic blood pressure measured using an electronic sphygmomanometer. Unit of Measure: mmHg

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  4. Heart rate

    Heart rate measured using an electronic sphygmomanometer.Unit of Measure: bpm (beats per minute)

    Measured: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  5. Serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration

    Fasting serum LDL cholesterol concentration measured from blood samples. Unit of Measure: mmol/L

    Measured: Measured at baseline and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  6. Serum total cholesterol concentration

    Fasting serum total cholesterol concentration measured from blood samples. Unit of Measure: mmol/L

    Measured: Measured at baseline and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  7. HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio

    Ratio of serum HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol calculated from fasting blood samples.Unit of Measure: ratio (dimensionless)

    Measured: Measured at baseline and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

  8. Serum triglyceride concentration

    Fasting serum triglyceride concentration measured from blood samples.Unit of Measure: mmol/L

    Measured: Measured at baseline and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Apr 2026
  2. Study start16 Apr 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion16 Jun 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion20 Jul 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07558421
Sponsor's protocol ID
2026YX160
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
13 Apr 2026
Last updated
30 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Short-term stair climbing exercise snack group, Long-duration stair climbing exercise snack group and Moderate-intensity continuous exercise(MICT) in people with Overweight and Obesity, run by Weifang Medical University.

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 5 inclusion and 13 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

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 XINCHEN ZHANG (+8615094866869, zhangxinchen2001@126.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD, relative percentage) (time frame: Measured at baseline, mid-intervention (approximately 3-4 weeks), and post-intervention (after 6-8 weeks).). The study lists 14 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 30 Apr 2026.

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