An interventional study of Control Condition and Cold-Water Exercise in Healthy Adult Male, Appetite and Energy Intake, sponsored by Coventry University. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-06.
Sponsored by Coventry University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
This study investigated whether exercising in cold environments affects appetite, energy intake, and food preference compared with exercising in thermoneutral conditions. Eleven healthy males completed five laboratory trials as part of a crossover study: a control trial and four exercise trials performed in cold-water (16°C), thermoneutral water (35°C), cold-ambient air (6°C), and thermoneutral ambient air (26°C). Appetite responses were assessed throughout each trial, and participants were provided with an ad libitum meal after exercise to measure energy intake. Food preference was assessed using the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire. The study aimed to determine whether environmental temperature and exercise medium influence acute post-exercise eating behaviour.
Exercise performed in cold environments may influence thermoregulatory responses and subsequent eating behaviour differently compared with exercise performed under thermoneutral conditions. Previous research suggests that cold exposure may increase post-exercise energy intake; however, the influence of environmental temperature and exercise medium (water versus air) on appetite regulation and food-related behaviour remains unclear.
This study used a randomised repeated-measures crossover design to investigate the effects of cold and thermoneutral exercise conditions on appetite, energy intake, and food preference in healthy males.
Eleven healthy males completed five laboratory trials: a no-exercise control condition and four experimental exercise conditions consisting of 30 minutes of arm-leg rowing exercise performed in cold-water (16°C), thermoneutral water (35°C), cold-ambient air (6°C), and thermoneutral ambient air (26°C). Trials were separated by a minimum seven-day washout period.
Appetite responses were assessed using visual analogue scales throughout each trial. Following exercise, participants consumed an ad libitum meal to assess acute post-exercise energy intake. Food preference responses, including food appeal and preference measures, were assessed using the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire.
The primary objective was to determine whether environmental temperature and exercise medium influence post-exercise energy intake. Secondary objectives were to examine effects on subjective appetite and food preference measures.
This study provides insight into how exercising in different thermal environments may influence immediate eating behaviour following exercise.
155 studies on the registry are indexed under Food Preferences; 20 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 11 is below the median of 133 across 121 interventional studies indexed under Food Preferences.
Browse Food Preferences studies →Coventry University is the lead sponsor of 16 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Resting control condition with no exercise performed. Participants completed the same standardised laboratory procedures and outcome assessments under resting conditions.
Other: Control Condition
Participants completed 30 minutes of arm-leg rowing exercise performed in cold water at 16°C.
Other: Cold-Water Exercise
Participants completed 30 minutes of arm-leg rowing exercise performed in thermoneutral water at 35°C.
Other: Thermoneutral Water Exercise
Participants completed 30 minutes of arm-leg rowing exercise performed in cold ambient air at 6°C.
Other: Cold-Ambient Air Exercise
Participants completed 30 minutes of arm-leg rowing exercise performed in thermoneutral ambient air at 26°C.
Other: Thermoneutral Ambient Air Exercise
Resting control condition with no exercise exposure.
Arm-leg rowing exercise performed in 16°C water.
Arm-leg rowing exercise performed in 35°C water.
Arm-leg rowing exercise performed in 6°C ambient air.
Arm-leg rowing exercise performed in 26°C ambient air.
Post-exercise ad libitum energy intake
Energy intake consumed during an ad libitum homogeneous pasta meal provided after each 30-minute experimental/control condition. The mass of food consumed was determined by subtracting the mass of food remaining (including leftovers on the plate and cutlery). Absolute energy intake was calculated using the nutritional information provided by the food manufacturer.
Time frame: 30 minutes after completion of the 30-minute experimental/control condition.
Subjective appetite responses
Subjective appetite responses including hunger, fullness, satisfaction, and prospective food consumption assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 mm (not at all) to 100 mm (extremely). Higher scores indicate greater subjective appetite sensations.
Time frame: Before and after breakfast, before the 30-minute experimental/control condition, during the 30-minute experimental/control condition, and before and after the ad libitum meal.
Food preference and food reward responses
Food preference and reward responses assessed using the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ). Outcomes include explicit liking, explicit wanting, implicit wanting, and fat and sweet appeal bias scores. Higher scores indicate greater preference or reward response for the respective food category (fat or sweet).
Time frame: 15 minutes after completion of each 30-minute experimental/control trial and 15-minutes before the ad libitum meal.
Core body temperature
Changes in core body temperature measured continuously using a rectal thermistor during and after each experimental/control condition.
Time frame: During the 30-minute experimental/control condition and during the 60-minute post-exposure recovery period.
Energy expenditure
Energy expenditure during the exercise/control condition estimated from breath-by-breath oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production using indirect calorimetry.
Time frame: During the 30-minute experimental/control condition.
Skin temperature and mean body temperature responses
Skin temperature was measured at four sites (chest, bicep, thigh, and calf) using skin temperature probes. Mean skin temperature and mean body temperature were calculated to assess changes in peripheral and overall thermal status.
Time frame: 5-minutes before and 5-minutes after the 30-minute experimental/control condition.
Thermal sensation and shivering responses
Thermal sensation was assessed using the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 7-point Thermal Sensation Scale, ranging from -3 (cold) to +3 (hot), where 0 indicates thermal neutrality. Shivering responses were assessed using the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale (BSAS) ranging from 0 (no shivering) to 3 (severe shivering), with higher scores indicating greater shivering severity.
Time frame: During the 30-minute experimental/control condition at 10-minute intervals.
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared. Study results will be reported in aggregate form through publications and presentations. Data will be retained securely in accordance with Coventry University research governance and data protection requirements.
Ran from Jan 2025 to primary completion in Jul 2025, 5 months.
Of 92 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Food Preferences, half reached primary completion within 5 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 1 and three quarters within 17. This study's 5 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 92 studies reached it within 5 months; a quarter within 1 and three quarters within 17.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Coventry University