Influence of Ambient Temperature on Food Intake Through a Randomized Control Trial in an Office Setting

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Food Intake in 2 Thermal Environments

In brief

Based on preliminary data and previous studies, the investigators hypothesize that the ambient temperature experienced by an individual influences his or her food intake in males and females aged 19 to 30. Specifically, exposure to temperatures above the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) will decrease consumption in young adults in a sedentary situation. Researchers will execute a randomized control trial specifically testing thermal exposure and its effect on an individual's food consumption. Participants will receive and wear a t-shirt. They will have a thermal image taken of the inner canthus of their eye and middle finger nail bed, representing a baseline of core and peripheral temperatures, respectively. They will be randomized to either a colder environment (65°F) or a warmer environment (75°F) under the artifice of monitoring routine office work with abnormal temperature conditions. Their knowledge of the experiment will be limited until the end. They will experience this temperature while filling out paperwork and performing basic office tasks. After one hour, another thermal image will be taken. Each participant will be presented with a large, Mellow Mushroom cheese pizza and directed to eat at their leisure and subsequently finish the office tasks over the next hour. The participants will then be debriefed on the parameters of the experiment and body measurements will be taken at the end so as to prevent bias of the subject by limiting their food intake. The investigators will quantify energy intake by weighing remaining food and comparing to known caloric content by weight from bomb calorimetry tests. The infrared thermal images will determine whether the temperatures experienced were extreme enough to initiate a change in thermoregulation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02386891

Run by

University of Alabama at Birmingham

People needed

20

Starts

2014-03-01

Expected to finish

2014-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-03-12

Who can join

Age: 19 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Ages 19-35
• Men and women

You may not qualify if…

• Exclusion Criteria:
• Any food allergy, including, but not limited to lactose or gluten intolerance.
• Religious affiliations that include specific food guidelines.
• Personal dietary restrictions, including but not limited to veganism.
• Participation in any weight-reduction program, weight-loss diet, or other special diet within the previous 3 months.
• Weight loss or gain of >5% of body weight in the past 6 months for any reason except post-partum weight loss.
• Currently taking medication that suppresses or stimulates appetite or that affects body weight, including oral anti-diabetic medications.
• History of prior surgical procedure for weight control or liposuction.
• Anyone currently taking statins.
• Self report of high blood pressure (above 140 systolic, 90 diastolic)
• Current smoker or quit smoking less than 6 months prior.
• Any major disease, including:
• Active cancer or cancer requiring treatment in the past 2 years (except nonmelanoma skin cancer).
• Active or chronic infections, including self-reported HIV positivity and active tuberculosis.
• Active cardiovascular disease or event including hospitalization or therapeutic procedures for treatment of heart disease (e.g., coronary artery bypass, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) in the past 6 months; New York Heart Association Functional Class >2 with respect to congestive heart failure; stroke or transient ischemic attack in the past 6 months.
• Gastrointestinal disease, including self-reported chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, any episode of alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic pancreatitis within past year, inflammatory bowel disease requiring treatment in the past year, recent or significant abdominal surgery (e.g., gastrectomy).
• Active renal disease.
• Lung disease: chronic obstructive airway disease requiring use of oxygen.
• Diagnosed diabetes (type 1 or 2).
• Uncompensated or uncontrolled psychiatric disease (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) that, in opinion of the investigators, would impede conduct of the trial or completion of procedures.
• Self reported history of or current eating disorders
• Conditions or behaviors likely to effect the conduct of the trial: unable or unwilling to give informed consent; unable to communicate with the pertinent staff; another household member is a participant or staff member in the trial; current or anticipated participation in another research project that would interfere with the offered session; unwilling to accept condition assignment by randomization
• Currently taking antidepressant, steroid, or thyroid medication, unless dosage has been stable for at least 6 months.
• Self-report of a recent or ongoing problem with drug abuse or addiction.
• Self report of excessive alcohol intake, either acute or chronic, defined as any one of the following: 1) average consumption of 3 or more alcohol containing beverages daily; 2) consumption of 7 or more alcoholic beverages within a 24-hr period in the past 12 months

Where it is running

• University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health — Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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