Circadian RhythmNCT06549322
Timing and Resistance Exercise: Impact on Eating and Metabolism
A study testing The exercise in morning and The exercise in evening in people with Circadian Rhythm and Energy Balance, run by National Taiwan Normal University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Exercise timing (morning or evening) for optimal weight control is a research topic urgently addressed by scholars in the relevant field. Due to the better control of energy metabolism and physical activity levels in the morning, existing research on resistance exercise and eating behavior primarily focuses on… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 30 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Circadian Rhythm, Energy Balance, Appetitive Behavior
- What is being tested?
- The exercise in morning and The exercise in evening
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 12 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2024to 30 Dec 2025
- 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 20 to 30 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age: 20-30
- weight stable for at least 6 months
Who cannot join
- Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m² or body fat percentage > 25%)
- Hypertension (blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg)
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Any other conditions that could potentially influence the study's outcomes
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Efficacy of Exercise Timing - Effects of Resistance Exercise on Eating Behavior and Energy Metabolism
Exercise timing (morning or evening) for optimal weight control is a research topic urgently addressed by scholars in the relevant field. Due to the better control of energy metabolism and physical activity levels in the morning, existing research on resistance exercise and eating behavior primarily focuses on experiments conducted in the morning, with only one study in the afternoon. No research has yet compared the potential differences between morning and evening resistance exercise. A one-year study aims to investigate the impact of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. Eighteen healthy male participants will be randomly assigned to a crossover design study, including AM exercise, PM exercise, and control (rest condition) trials. Variables including subjective appetite, appetite hormones (ghrelin, peptide YY), food preferences, ad libitum eating, dietary records, energy expenditure, and PBMCs circadian rhythm genes will be measured. This preliminary study through a multidimensional observation, the results will contribute to understanding the potential differences and mechanisms of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. In practical applications, conducting resistance exercise in the evening or at night aligns better with current lifestyles. The findings of this study can support the optimization of exercise benefits by validating the choice of exercise timing.
- Conditions
- Circadian Rhythm, Energy Balance, Appetitive Behavior, Food Reward
- Being tested
- The exercise in morning, The exercise in evening
- Keywords
- resistance exercise, energy expenditure
- Medical subject headings
- Appetitive Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
The exercise in morningOther
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 60 sec of rest between sets.
Exercise timing: AM 11:00-11:30
The exercise in eveningOther
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 60 sec of rest between sets.
Exercise timing: PM 05:00-05:30
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| The exercise in morning | 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 60 sec of rest between sets. Receives: Other: The exercise in morning |
| The exercise in evening | 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 60 sec of rest between sets. Receives: Other: The exercise in evening |
| The control in all day | No intervention | Sit and rest in the morning and evening during the day. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite 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 Leptin
Leptin in pg/mL
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Change in lactate
lactate in mmol/L
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Change in PBMCs circadian rhythm genes
Circadian rhythm genes in PBMC will be measured, such as Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2, Cry3, and Tbp in arbitrary units.
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Energy intake
Participants will be required to record their diet for the day before, the current day, 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.
Energy expenditure
Participants will record energy expenditure during resistance exercise, with non-exercise energy expenditure measured using an accelerometer.
Measured: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Secondary outcomes (9)
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."
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
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."
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
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.
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
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?". The relative preference is the sum of the times each type of food is chosen, with a maximum value of 48 and a minimum value of 0.
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
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.
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
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
change in Cortisol
Cortisol mcg/dL
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
change in complete blood count
change in complete blood count cells/L
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
change in growth hormone
growth hormone pmol/L
Measured: 3 hours during each study intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Aug 2024
- Study start1 Oct 2024
- Primary completion30 Dec 2025
- Study completion30 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Circadian RhythmStudies 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
- 12 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Hung-wen Liu, Ph.D., Principal investigator, National Taiwan Normal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06549322
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202401HM008
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 8 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 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 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Efficacy of Exercise Timing - Effects of Resistance Exercise on Eating Behavior and Energy Metabolism
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06549322
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 202401HM008
- Conditions
- Circadian Rhythm, Energy Balance, Appetitive Behavior, Food Reward
- Keywords
- resistance exercise, energy expenditure
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Aug 2024 (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.
Exercise timing (morning or evening) for optimal weight control is a research topic urgently addressed by scholars in the relevant field. Due to the better control of energy metabolism and physical activity levels in the morning, existing research on resistance exercise and eating behavior primarily focuses on experiments conducted in the morning, with only one study in the afternoon. No research has yet compared the potential differences between morning and evening resistance exercise. A one-year study aims to investigate the impact of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. Eighteen healthy male participants will be randomly assigned to a crossover design study, including AM exercise, PM exercise, and control (rest condition) trials. Variables including subjective appetite, appetite hormones (ghrelin, peptide YY), food preferences, ad libitum eating, dietary records, energy expenditure, and PBMCs circadian rhythm genes will be measured. This preliminary study through a multidimensional observation, the results will contribute to understanding the potential differences and mechanisms of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. In practical applications, conducting resistance exercise in the evening or at night aligns better with current lifestyles. The findings of this study can support the optimization of exercise benefits by validating the choice of exercise timing.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| The exercise in morning | Experimental | Other: The exercise in morningResistance 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 60 sec of rest between sets. |
| The exercise in evening | Experimental | Other: The exercise in eveningResistance 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 60 sec of rest between sets. |
| The control in all day | No intervention | –Sit and rest in the morning and evening during the day. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 30 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Age: 20-30
- weight stable for at least 6 months
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m² or body fat percentage > 25%)
- Hypertension (blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg)
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Liver or kidney diseases
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The exercise in morningResistance 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 60 sec of rest between sets. Exercise timing: AM 11:00-11:30 | Other | The exercise in morning |
| The exercise in eveningResistance 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 60 sec of rest between sets. Exercise timing: PM 05:00-05:30 | Other | The exercise in evening |
Primary outcome
Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite 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 Leptin
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Leptin in pg/mL
Change in lactate
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
lactate in mmol/L
Change in PBMCs circadian rhythm genes
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Circadian rhythm genes in PBMC will be measured, such as Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2, Cry3, and Tbp in arbitrary units.
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, and the day following the experiment. The energy intake include absolute energy intake and relative energy intake .
Energy expenditure
Time frame: The Before day, the durning day, and the day following the experiment.
Participants will record energy expenditure during resistance exercise, with non-exercise energy expenditure measured using an accelerometer.
9 secondary outcomes
Explicit liking
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Explicit wanting
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Implicit wanting
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Relative preference
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Taste appeal bias
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
Fat appeal bias
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
change in Cortisol
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
change in complete blood count
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
change in growth hormone
Time frame: 3 hours during each study intervention
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 16 Oct 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hung-wen Liu, Ph.D. principal investigator
National Taiwan Normal University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing The exercise in morning and The exercise in evening in people with Circadian Rhythm and Energy Balance, 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 2 inclusion and 6 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 16 Oct 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?
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?
Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite Subjective appetite 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 16 Oct 2026.