RMR Monitoring Feasibility and Acceptability

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA · Jun 17, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new approach to help people manage their weight more effectively by personalizing diet goals based on individual metabolism. Obesity can lead to serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease, and traditional weight management programs often don't work in the long run. The study will involve healthy adults, both with and without obesity, measuring their resting metabolic rate (how many calories their body uses at rest) using a portable device over six weeks. Participants will keep track of their diet and physical activity while providing feedback on their experience.

To be eligible for the study, participants should be between 19 and 65 years old, have a body mass index (BMI) above 18.5, and live within an hour of the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO). They should be sedentary or lightly active, and not have any major health conditions that could affect their metabolism. Participants can expect to attend two in-person visits, complete weekly measurements of their metabolism from home, and fill out surveys about their experience. This study aims to understand how feasible and acceptable it is for individuals to monitor their metabolism in this way, which could lead to better weight management strategies in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 19-65 years
• • Ability to read, understand, and speak in English
• • BMI over 18.5
• • Live within a 1-hour radius of UBCO
• • Sedentary or recreationally active, defined as: \<300-minutes per week of self-reported voluntary exercise at moderate intensity or greater over the past 12-weeks
• • Not currently pregnant or lactating, not planning to become pregnant in the next 12 weeks
• • Ability to attend two in-person sessions at UBCO
• • Ability and willingness to fast for 12 hours before each study day visit and at least once a week before completing RMR measures using the portable indirect calorimeter
• • Access to a mobile device (i.e., smartphone or tablet) with reliable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection for the 6 week study duration
• * If applicable:
• • For people who occasionally (i.e., \<1x/day) use cannabis (including cannabidiol-based products): ability and willingness to abstain from cannabis for two days prior to each study day visit, and the morning of each study visit.
• • For people who use cannabis daily: ability and willingness to continue to use the exact same amount of cannabis as they normally use for two days prior to each study day visit, the morning of each study visit (if applicable), and during the 6 week study duration.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Current or previous major comorbidities, by self-report, including:
• • Cardiovascular disease
• • Diabetes (type 1, type 2, pervious gestational)
• • Cancer
• • Thyroid diseases
• • Human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C
• • Renal diseases
• • Polycystic ovary syndrome
• * Uncontrolled/untreated, by self-report:
• • Hypertension
• • Dyslipidemia
• • Sleep disorders
• • Severe depression
• • Any other condition that may affect energy balance
• * Currently or in the past six months:
• • Use of regular medication that may affect energy balance, or sleep
• • Regular use of tobacco or nicotine products
• • Starting any new prescription medication within two weeks of the first study day visit or planning to do so during the study
• • Working night shifts or traveling across more than two time zones within two weeks of and throughout the study
• • History of surgical procedure for weight loss at any time (e.g., gastroplasty, gastric bypass, gastrectomy or partial gastrectomy, adjustable banding, gastric sleeve); history of extensive bowel resection for other reasons
• • Current alcohol or substance abuse (score ≥ 15 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) 32
• • Current or past history of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder (self-report or score \>20 on the Eating Attitudes Test - 26 (EATS-26) questionnaire) 33
• • Current symptoms of depression (score ≥ 10 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, 10-item version (CES-D-10))34
• • Weight loss \>5kg in past 12 weeks for any reason
• • Weight loss of \>20 kgs in past 3 years for any reason
• • Degree or previous work experience (in the past 10 years) in fields highly related to energy balance (e.g., those exercise or nutrition)