PrediabetesRISE UPNCT07847684
Effects of Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks on Metabolic and Vascular Health in Adults With Prediabetes
A study testing Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks and Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks in people with Prediabetes, run by St. Louis University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will examine whether very short bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day can improve blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in adults with prediabetes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 69 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Prediabetes
- What is being tested?
- Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks and Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Jul 2027
- 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 69 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 69 years, inclusive. Body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 40.0 kg/m², inclusive.
- Objectively confirmed prediabetes based on at least one of the following:
- HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4%;
- fasting plasma glucose 100 to 125 mg/dL; or
- 2-hour plasma glucose 140 to 199 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
- Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent in English.
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- Able to safely perform repeated walking and vigorous stair-climbing activity based on medical history, resting vital signs, PAR-Q+ responses, investigator assessment, and medical clearance when required.
- Able to safely undergo repeated venous blood collection and IV-catheter placement.
- Able to safely consume the standardized study meals. Willing and able to complete all three experimental conditions and comply with fasting, dietary, physical-activity, medication, and pre-visit standardization instructions.
Who cannot join
- BMI below 25.0 kg/m² or above 40.0 kg/m². Diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Laboratory findings that do not confirm prediabetes or that suggest diabetes, including HbA1c ≥6.5%, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or 2-hour plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
- Cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological, or other medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the walking or stair-climbing interventions.
- Resting vital signs, current symptoms, or other screening findings indicating that exercise participation would be unsafe.
- Pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study period, or breastfeeding. Current use of medications that may substantially affect glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, body weight, study outcomes, or safe participation, including insulin, glucose-lowering medications, GLP-1 receptor agonists, pharmacologic weight-loss medications, systemic corticosteroids, or other medications judged by the investigator to interfere with study outcomes or safety.
- Contraindications to vascular ultrasound, repeated blood collection, IV-catheter placement, or exercise participation.
- Food allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions that prevent safe consumption of the standardized study meals.
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- Known allergy or severe skin sensitivity to adhesives used with continuous glucose monitors.
- Bleeding disorder, current anticoagulant use, history of anemia, recent blood donation, recurrent fainting during blood collection, difficult venous access, or another condition judged to create unacceptable risk from repeated blood sampling or IV-catheter placement.
- Inability to safely perform repeated walking or stair climbing. PAR-Q+ result requiring further medical evaluation when the participant does not obtain required written medical clearance.
- Any other condition or finding that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator or qualified study investigator, would make participation unsafe or substantially interfere with completion of study procedures.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Saint Louis University
St Louis, Missouri, 63104
Hossein Rafiei, PhD, 314-977-8675, hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu
About this study
Official title: RISE UP: Rapid Intense Stair Exercise for Unleashing Metabolic Potential in Prediabetes
This study will examine whether very short bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day can improve blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in adults with prediabetes. Participants will complete three separate study visits in random order: uninterrupted sitting, sitting interrupted by 3-minute light walking breaks each hour, and sitting interrupted by brief stair-climbing exercise "snacks" each hour.
During each visit, the research team will measure glucose, insulin, blood lipids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and blood-vessel function. Continuous glucose monitors, blood samples, heart-rate and blood-pressure measurements, vascular ultrasound, and questionnaires will be used to assess the participants' responses.
The goal of the study is to determine whether brief stair-climbing breaks may be a practical way to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting and improve metabolic health in adults with prediabetes.
Read the detailed description
This is a single-site, randomized, counterbalanced crossover pilot study evaluating the acute metabolic, vascular, and behavioral effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in adults with prediabetes. A total of 20 participants will complete all three experimental conditions in randomized order, with a washout period of at least 7 days between visits.
The three experimental conditions are: (1) uninterrupted sitting, (2) sitting interrupted each hour by a 3-minute light walking break, and (3) sitting interrupted each hour by a brief stair-climbing exercise snack consisting of approximately 20 seconds of stair ascent at a fast but safe self-selected pace.
Participants will attend each experimental visit after an overnight fast. Two standardized meals will be provided during each approximately 6-hour experimental visit: Meal 1 at the beginning of the postprandial testing period and Meal 2 approximately 180 minutes later. Metabolic responses will be assessed using continuous glucose monitoring and serial blood sampling for glucose, insulin, lipids, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress markers. Vascular responses will be assessed using noninvasive ultrasound. Heart rate, blood pressure, ratings of perceived exertion, symptoms, and participant-reported feasibility and acceptability will also be assessed.
The study is designed to determine whether brief hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks improve postprandial glucose and insulin responses and other cardiometabolic outcomes compared with uninterrupted sitting and light walking breaks, and to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this approach in adults with prediabetes.
- Conditions
- Prediabetes
- Being tested
- Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks, Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks
- Keywords
- Stair Climbing, Exercise Snacks, Sedentary Behavior, Postprandial Glucose, Insulin Resistance, Vascular Function, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Postprandial Insulin, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation
- Medical subject headings
- Prediabetic State, Sedentary Behavior, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking BreaksBehavioural
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Activity breaks are therefore separated by approximately 60 minutes. Participants will otherwise remain seated except as required for study procedures.
Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise SnacksBehavioural
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds. Participants will not run or skip steps, and use of the handrail will be permitted as needed.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Uninterrupted Sitting | No intervention | Participants will remain seated throughout the approximately 6-hour experimental visit, except as needed for study procedures. At the time points corresponding to activity bouts in the walking and stair-climbing conditions, participants will remain seated. This condition serves as the sedentary control condition. |
| Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks | Active comparator | Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Walking breaks will therefore occur at 60-minute intervals. Receives: Behavioral: Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks |
| Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks | Experimental | Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds. Receives: Behavioral: Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
6-Hour Postprandial Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Plasma glucose will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from serial venous blood samples collected every 30 minutes through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define the start of the postprandial period, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Plasma glucose AUC will be calculated across the 6-hour experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Plasma insulin will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define time 0, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Insulin AUC will be calculated across the 0- to 360-minute experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Secondary outcomes (11)
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Free Fatty Acid Response
Plasma free fatty acids will be measured from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, followed by postprandial sampling through 360 minutes after Meal 1. Free fatty acid responses across the postprandial period will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Triglyceride Response
Plasma triglycerides will be measured from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, followed by postprandial sampling through 360 minutes after Meal 1. Triglyceride responses across the postprandial period will be compared among the three experimental conditions.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA)
Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, will be measured from prespecified venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, with postprandial assessment through 360 minutes after Meal 1. MDA responses will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Inflammatory Cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6)
Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) will be measured from prespecified venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, with postprandial assessment through 360 minutes after Meal 1. TNF-α and IL-6 responses will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Diameter
Superficial femoral artery diameter will be assessed using noninvasive Duplex ultrasound before and after each experimental condition. B-mode ultrasound images will be used to quantify arterial diameter, and changes will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Blood-Flow Velocity
Superficial femoral artery blood-flow velocity will be assessed using Doppler ultrasound before and after each experimental condition. Changes in blood-flow velocity will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Shear Pattern
Superficial femoral artery shear patterns will be derived from vascular ultrasound measurements obtained before and after each experimental condition. Changes in shear patterns will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Measured: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Heart Rate Response to Activity Bouts
Heart rate will be recorded immediately before and immediately after each walking or stair-climbing bout, with measurements obtained at corresponding matched time points during the uninterrupted-sitting condition. Heart rate responses will be compared among the three experimental conditions.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Rating of Perceived Exertion During Activity Bouts
Rating of perceived exertion will be assessed using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (6-20) immediately after each walking and stair-climbing bout. Higher scores indicate greater perceived exertion. Ratings will be used to characterize perceived exercise intensity across the active conditions.
Measured: Immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
End-of-Study Acceptability and Practicality Questionnaire Responses
Participants will complete the RISE UP End-of-Study Acceptability, Practicality, and Potential Adoption Questionnaire after the final experimental visit. Items assess acceptability, enjoyment, practicality, confidence, perceived usefulness, and willingness for future adoption. Agreement items use a 5-point response scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater agreement with the individual statement. Because the questionnaire includes both positively and negatively worded items and no overall score will be calculated, higher scores do not uniformly indicate a better or worse outcome. Individual questionnaire items will be summarized separately.
Measured: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
Participant-Reported Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation
Participants will report perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in daily life using questionnaire items and open-ended responses. Closed-ended barrier items use a 5-point response scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater agreement that the specified factor represents a barrier. Open-ended responses will be summarized qualitatively. No overall barriers or facilitators score will be calculated.
Measured: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PrediabetesStudies 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
- Model description
- Randomized, counterbalanced, three-condition crossover study. Each participant will complete uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in randomized order, with a washout period of at least 7 days between experimental visits.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- St. Louis University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hossein Rafiei, St. Louis University
- Investigators
- Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD, ACSM-CPT, Principal investigator, St. Louis University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847684
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00000085
- Other IDs
- PROJ-000884
- Acronym
- RISE UP
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the primary publication may be shared upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator, subject to institutional policies, applicable ethical and privacy requirements, and execution of an appropriate data-use agreement when required.
Publications
Fujie S, Rafiei H, Kanemoto M, Konishi S, Iemitsu M, Little JP. Effect of prolonged sitting with stair climbing exercise "snacks" on circulating myokines profiles. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Jul;126(7):4127-4135. doi: 10.1007/s00421-026-06229-2. Epub 2026 Apr 10.
PubMed 41961282Moore J, Salmons H, Vinoskey C, Kressler J. A single one-minute, comfortable paced, stair-climbing bout reduces postprandial glucose following a mixed meal. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Oct 30;30(11):1967-1972. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.06.020. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
PubMed 32811738Dunstan DW, Kingwell BA, Larsen R, Healy GN, Cerin E, Hamilton MT, Shaw JE, Bertovic DA, Zimmet PZ, Salmon J, Owen N. Breaking up prolonged sitting reduces postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Diabetes Care. 2012 May;35(5):976-83. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1931. Epub 2012 Feb 28.
PubMed 22374636Gay JL, Buchner DM, Erickson ML, Lauture A. Effect of short bouts of high intensity activity on glucose among adults with prediabetes: A pilot randomized crossover study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2018 Jul;141:168-174. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.04.045. Epub 2018 May 7.
PubMed 29746878Caldwell HG, Coombs GB, Rafiei H, Ainslie PN, Little JP. Hourly staircase sprinting exercise "snacks" improve femoral artery shear patterns but not flow-mediated dilation or cerebrovascular regulation: a pilot study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 May;46(5):521-529. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2020-0562. Epub 2020 Nov 26.
PubMed 33242251Rafiei H, Omidian K, Myette-Cote E, Little JP. Metabolic Effect of Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting with Stair Climbing Exercise Snacks. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Jan;53(1):150-158. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002431.
PubMed 32555024
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- RISE UP: Rapid Intense Stair Exercise for Unleashing Metabolic Potential in Prediabetes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847684
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RISE UP / STUDY00000085
- Conditions
- Prediabetes
- Keywords
- Stair Climbing, Exercise Snacks, Sedentary Behavior, Postprandial Glucose, Insulin Resistance, Vascular Function, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Postprandial Insulin
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- St. Louis UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 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.
This study will examine whether very short bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day can improve blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in adults with prediabetes. Participants will complete three separate study visits in random order: uninterrupted sitting, sitting interrupted by 3-minute light walking breaks each hour, and sitting interrupted by brief stair-climbing exercise "snacks" each hour.
During each visit, the research team will measure glucose, insulin, blood lipids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and blood-vessel function. Continuous glucose monitors, blood samples, heart-rate and blood-pressure measurements, vascular ultrasound, and questionnaires will be used to assess the participants' responses.
The goal of the study is to determine whether brief stair-climbing breaks may be a practical way to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting and improve metabolic health in adults with prediabetes.
Detailed description
This is a single-site, randomized, counterbalanced crossover pilot study evaluating the acute metabolic, vascular, and behavioral effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in adults with prediabetes. A total of 20 participants will complete all three experimental conditions in randomized order, with a washout period of at least 7 days between visits.
The three experimental conditions are: (1) uninterrupted sitting, (2) sitting interrupted each hour by a 3-minute light walking break, and (3) sitting interrupted each hour by a brief stair-climbing exercise snack consisting of approximately 20 seconds of stair ascent at a fast but safe self-selected pace.
Participants will attend each experimental visit after an overnight fast. Two standardized meals will be provided during each approximately 6-hour experimental visit: Meal 1 at the beginning of the postprandial testing period and Meal 2 approximately 180 minutes later. Metabolic responses will be assessed using continuous glucose monitoring and serial blood sampling for glucose, insulin, lipids, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress markers. Vascular responses will be assessed using noninvasive ultrasound. Heart rate, blood pressure, ratings of perceived exertion, symptoms, and participant-reported feasibility and acceptability will also be assessed.
The study is designed to determine whether brief hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks improve postprandial glucose and insulin responses and other cardiometabolic outcomes compared with uninterrupted sitting and light walking breaks, and to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this approach in adults with prediabetes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Randomized, counterbalanced, three-condition crossover study. Each participant will complete uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in randomized order, with a washout period of at least 7 days between experimental visits.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Uninterrupted Sitting | No intervention | –Participants will remain seated throughout the approximately 6-hour experimental visit, except as needed for study procedures. At the time points corresponding to activity bouts in the walking and stair-climbing conditions, participants will remain seated. This condition serves as the sedentary control condition. |
| Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks | Active comparator | Behavioral: Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking BreaksParticipants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Walking breaks will therefore occur at 60-minute intervals. |
| Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks | Experimental | Behavioral: Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise SnacksParticipants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 69 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Age 18 to 69 years, inclusive. Body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 40.0 kg/m², inclusive.
- HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4%;
- fasting plasma glucose 100 to 125 mg/dL; or
- 2-hour plasma glucose 140 to 199 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
- Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent in English.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- BMI below 25.0 kg/m² or above 40.0 kg/m². Diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Laboratory findings that do not confirm prediabetes or that suggest diabetes, including HbA1c ≥6.5%, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or 2-hour plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
- Cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological, or other medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the walking or stair-climbing interventions.
- Resting vital signs, current symptoms, or other screening findings indicating that exercise participation would be unsafe.
- Pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study period, or breastfeeding. Current use of medications that may substantially affect glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, body weight, study outcomes, or safe participation, including insulin, glucose-lowering medications, GLP-1 receptor agonists, pharmacologic weight-loss medications, systemic corticosteroids, or other medications judged by the investigator to interfere with study outcomes or safety.
- Contraindications to vascular ultrasound, repeated blood collection, IV-catheter placement, or 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking BreaksParticipants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Activity breaks are therefore separated by approximately 60 minutes. Participants will otherwise remain seated except as required for study procedures. | Behavioural | Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks |
| Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise SnacksParticipants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds. Participants will not run or skip steps, and use of the handrail will be permitted as needed. | Behavioural | Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks |
Primary outcome
6-Hour Postprandial Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Plasma glucose will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from serial venous blood samples collected every 30 minutes through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define the start of the postprandial period, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Plasma glucose AUC will be calculated across the 6-hour experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Plasma insulin will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define time 0, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Insulin AUC will be calculated across the 0- to 360-minute experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
11 secondary outcomes
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Free Fatty Acid Response
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Triglyceride Response
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA)
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Inflammatory Cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6)
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Diameter
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Blood-Flow Velocity
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Shear Pattern
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Heart Rate Response to Activity Bouts
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Rating of Perceived Exertion During Activity Bouts
Time frame: Immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
End-of-Study Acceptability and Practicality Questionnaire Responses
Time frame: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
Participant-Reported Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation
Time frame: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
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 29 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 41961282Fujie S, Rafiei H, Kanemoto M, Konishi S, Iemitsu M, Little JP. Effect of prolonged sitting with stair climbing exercise "snacks" on circulating myokines profiles. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Jul;126(7):4127-4135. doi: 10.1007/s00421-026-06229-2. Epub 2026 Apr 10.
- Background: PubMed 32811738Moore J, Salmons H, Vinoskey C, Kressler J. A single one-minute, comfortable paced, stair-climbing bout reduces postprandial glucose following a mixed meal. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Oct 30;30(11):1967-1972. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.06.020. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
- Background: PubMed 22374636Dunstan DW, Kingwell BA, Larsen R, Healy GN, Cerin E, Hamilton MT, Shaw JE, Bertovic DA, Zimmet PZ, Salmon J, Owen N. Breaking up prolonged sitting reduces postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Diabetes Care. 2012 May;35(5):976-83. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1931. Epub 2012 Feb 28.
- Background: PubMed 29746878Gay JL, Buchner DM, Erickson ML, Lauture A. Effect of short bouts of high intensity activity on glucose among adults with prediabetes: A pilot randomized crossover study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2018 Jul;141:168-174. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.04.045. Epub 2018 May 7.
- Background: PubMed 33242251Caldwell HG, Coombs GB, Rafiei H, Ainslie PN, Little JP. Hourly staircase sprinting exercise "snacks" improve femoral artery shear patterns but not flow-mediated dilation or cerebrovascular regulation: a pilot study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 May;46(5):521-529. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2020-0562. Epub 2020 Nov 26.
- Background: PubMed 32555024Rafiei H, Omidian K, Myette-Cote E, Little JP. Metabolic Effect of Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting with Stair Climbing Exercise Snacks. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Jan;53(1):150-158. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002431.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the primary publication may be shared upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator, subject to institutional policies, applicable ethical and privacy requirements, and execution of an appropriate data-use agreement when required.
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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.
Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD, ACSM-CPT principal investigator
St. Louis 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 Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks and Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks in people with Prediabetes, run by St. Louis University at 1 site in United States.
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 9 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 29 Sep 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 United States. 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 Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD, ACSM-CPT (314-977-8675, hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
6-Hour Postprandial Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) (time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion). The study lists 2 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 NCT07847684, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 29 Sep 2026.