Effects of Exercise Snacks on Clinical and Health Outcomes
Effects of Exercise Snacks on Clinical and Health Outcomes in Sedentary Populations With Chronic Diseases
Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior are major health concerns, especially for individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes and prediabetes. Many patients have difficulty following traditional exercise recommendations due to time constraints, limited physical capacity, comorbidities, or lack of access to exercise facilities. Therefore, new and more practical exercise strategies are needed.
"Exercise Snacks" is a novel physical activity approach that involves short bouts of exercise performed multiple times throughout the day. Each session is brief and easy to integrate into daily life, such as performing short periods of resistance exercises, brisk walking, stair climbing, or other simple activities. This approach may improve exercise adherence and provide health benefits without requiring long exercise sessions.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an Exercise Snacks intervention in sedentary adults with diabetes or prediabetes and to explore its potential effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health, physical function, and body composition.
In this study, sedentary adults aged 18-65 years with diabetes or prediabetes will participate in a 12-week study and will be randomly assigned to either an Exercise Snacks group or a control group. Participants in the Exercise Snacks group will perform short exercise sessions lasting approximately 3-5 minutes, including simple resistance exercises and short aerobic activities. These exercise sessions will be performed several times per day and integrated into daily routines. The control group will maintain their usual lifestyle without additional exercise intervention.
Participants may use wearable devices or mobile applications to receive reminders and record exercise activity. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention to evaluate physical activity adherence, physical function, body composition, blood pressure, blood glucose, and other cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators.
This study aims to determine whether short, frequent exercise sessions are a practical and effective alternative to traditional exercise recommendations for sedentary individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. The results of this study may help develop more feasible lifestyle intervention strategies to improve long-term exercise adherence and overall health in individuals with chronic diseases.
Panoramica dello studio
Stato
Intervento / Trattamento
Descrizione dettagliata
Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior are recognized as major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Although current physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, many individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes or prediabetes are unable to meet these recommendations due to time constraints, low exercise tolerance, comorbidities, or lack of access to exercise facilities. Therefore, alternative exercise strategies that are feasible, flexible, and sustainable are needed for sedentary populations with chronic diseases.
Exercise Snacks is an emerging exercise concept that involves performing short bouts of physical activity multiple times throughout the day rather than completing a single continuous exercise session. These short sessions typically last from 1 to 5 minutes and may include resistance exercises, stair climbing, brisk walking, or other moderate-to-high intensity activities. Previous studies suggest that accumulating short bouts of exercise throughout the day may improve glycemic control, cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and exercise adherence. However, the feasibility and acceptability of Exercise Snacks in sedentary individuals with diabetes or prediabetes remain insufficiently studied in clinical settings.
The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an Exercise Snacks intervention among sedentary adults with diabetes or prediabetes. Secondary aims include evaluating the preliminary effects of the Exercise Snacks intervention on cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators, physical function, and body composition.
This study will recruit sedentary adults aged 18 to 65 years who have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the Exercise Snacks intervention group or the control group. The intervention period will last 12 weeks.
Participants in the Exercise Snacks group will perform short exercise sessions multiple times per day. Each exercise session will last approximately 3 to 5 minutes and will include simple resistance exercises (such as squats, split squats, resistance band exercises, and curl-ups) and short aerobic activities (such as brisk walking, stair climbing, running in place, or jumping jacks). Participants will be encouraged to perform at least 3 to 4 exercise sessions per day and integrate these activities into their daily routines. Exercise intensity and exercise type will be adjusted based on individual physical capacity and safety considerations.
Participants in the control group will maintain their usual lifestyle and will not receive the Exercise Snacks intervention during the study period.
Wearable devices or mobile applications may be used to provide exercise reminders, monitor exercise adherence, and record physical activity data. Assessments will be conducted before and after the 12-week intervention. Outcome measurements will include feasibility and acceptability questionnaires, physical function tests (such as the 6-Minute Walk Test and 3-Minute Step Test), body composition measurements (including body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, muscle mass, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio), and cardiovascular and metabolic indicators (including blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c).
The results of this study will help determine whether Exercise Snacks is a feasible and practical lifestyle intervention strategy for sedentary individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. This study may provide preliminary evidence for integrating short-duration, high-frequency physical activity into clinical lifestyle management programs for chronic disease populations.
Tipo di studio
Iscrizione (Stimato)
Fase
- Non applicabile
Contatti e Sedi
Contatto studio
- Nome: Wen-Chun Tai, BS in Nutrition & Sports Med.
- Numero di telefono: 52524 +886-62812811
- Email: mksfla6@gmail.com
Luoghi di studio
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Yongkang Dist
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Tainan, Yongkang Dist, Taiwan, 71004
- ChiMei Medical Center
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Criteri di partecipazione
Criteri di ammissibilità
Età idonea allo studio
- Adulto
- Adulto più anziano
Accetta volontari sani
Descrizione
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 to 65 years.
- Diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%) or prediabetes (HbA1c ≥ 5.7%).
- Engaging in less than 1 hour of physical activity per week in the past 3 months, assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
- Sedentary behavior defined as sitting for ≥ 6 hours per day or walking fewer than 5,000 steps per day on average.
- Able to use a smartphone and operate related mobile applications.
- Able to provide informed consent and willing to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of heart disease, kidney disease, pregnancy, cancer, lower limb joint disease, or psychiatric disorders.
- Musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that limit independent physical activity or exercise.
- Acute or terminal illness that may affect participation in the study, such as ongoing cancer treatment, acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, or receiving palliative care.
- Unstable or uncontrolled cardiovascular, metabolic, or respiratory diseases, such as unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg), heart failure, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or acute exacerbation of respiratory disease.
- Presence of metal implants in the body.
- Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m².
- Unable to use a smartphone or mobile applications.
Piano di studio
Come è strutturato lo studio?
Dettagli di progettazione
- Scopo principale: Prevenzione
- Assegnazione: Randomizzato
- Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
- Mascheramento: Separare
Armi e interventi
Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm |
Intervento / Trattamento |
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Sperimentale: Exercise Snacks Group
Participants assigned to the Exercise Snacks group will perform short bouts of exercise multiple times throughout the day for 12 weeks.
Each exercise session will last approximately 3-5 minutes and will include simple resistance exercises (such as squats, split squats, resistance band exercises, and curl-ups) and short aerobic activities (such as brisk walking, stair climbing, running in place, or jumping jacks).
Participants will be encouraged to perform at least 3-4 exercise sessions per day and integrate these activities into their daily routine.
Exercise intensity and duration will be adjusted according to individual physical capacity.
Wearable devices or mobile applications may be used to provide reminders and record exercise adherence.
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The Exercise Snacks intervention consists of short bouts of physical activity performed multiple times throughout the day.
Each exercise session lasts approximately 3 to 5 minutes and includes simple resistance exercises and short aerobic activities.
Resistance exercises may include squats, split squats, resistance band exercises, and curl-ups, while aerobic activities may include brisk walking, stair climbing, running in place, or jumping jacks.
Participants will be encouraged to perform at least 3 to 4 exercise sessions per day and integrate these short exercise sessions into their daily routines.
Exercise intensity and exercise type will be adjusted according to individual physical capacity and safety considerations.
The intervention will be conducted over a 12-week period.
Wearable devices or mobile applications may be used to provide exercise reminders, monitor adherence, and record physical activity.
Altri nomi:
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Nessun intervento: Control Group
Participants assigned to the control group will maintain their usual lifestyle and physical activity habits during the 12-week study period and will not receive the Exercise Snacks intervention.
Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the study period.
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Cosa sta misurando lo studio?
Misure di risultato primarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
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Feasibility and acceptability of the Exercise Snacks intervention
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Feasibility and acceptability will be evaluated based on participant adherence, completion of the intervention, and participant-reported questionnaires assessing convenience, satisfaction, and willingness to continue the intervention.
Additionally, adherence and satisfaction will be quantified using standardized indicators, with higher scores indicating better adherence and greater satisfaction and acceptability.
The questionnaire will be assessed using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree), e.g., assessed using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale, EARS with items 2, 3, 4, and 6 being reverse-scored.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Misure di risultato secondarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
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Change in physical function assessed by the 3-Minute Step Test
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Physical function and cardiopulmonary endurance will be assessed using the 3-Minute Step Test, which evaluates participants' exercise capacity and functional fitness. Participants will perform a stepping exercise on a standardized step for 3 minutes at a fixed stepping rate. Heart rate will be measured immediately after exercise to assess cardiopulmonary endurance and recovery capacity. Lower post-exercise heart rates indicate better cardiovascular fitness. The Step Test Index will be calculated using the following formula: Step Test Index = Exercise duration (seconds) × 100 ÷ [2 × (sum of the three pulse counts)]. The calculated index will be classified into five fitness levels, with higher scores indicating better cardiopulmonary endurance and cardiovascular fitness. |
Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in body weight (kg)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Body weight (kg) will be assessed at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to evaluate changes in body weight associated with the exercise snacks intervention.
Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention measurements will be used to determine the potential effects of short-duration intermittent physical activity on body weight and overall body composition status.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in body mass index (BMI)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) will be assessed at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to evaluate changes in body composition associated with the exercise snacks intervention. Comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measurements will be used to determine the effects of short-duration intermittent physical activity on overall weight status. |
Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in body fat percentage (%)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Body fat percentage (%) will be measured before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in adiposity following the exercise snacks intervention.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the potential effects of intermittent physical activity on body fat reduction and body composition improvement.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in muscle mass (kg)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Muscle mass (kg) will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention to evaluate changes in skeletal muscle status associated with the exercise snacks intervention.
Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention measurements will be used to assess the potential effects of short-duration physical activity on muscle preservation and muscle mass improvement.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in waist circumference (cm)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Waist circumference (cm) will be measured before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in central adiposity and abdominal obesity.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on abdominal fat distribution and anthropometric status.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in blood pressure (mmHg)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Blood pressure (mmHg) will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to evaluate changes in cardiovascular status associated with the exercise snacks intervention.
Comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measurements will be used to assess the potential effects of short-duration intermittent physical activity on blood pressure control and cardiovascular health.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (mg/dL) will be assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on LDL-C levels and metabolic health.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in total cholesterol (CHOL)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Total cholesterol (CHOL) levels (mg/dL) will be assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on total cholesterol levels and metabolic health.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (mg/dL) will be assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on HDL-C levels and metabolic health.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in triglycerides (TG)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Triglyceride (TG) levels (mg/dL) will be assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on triglyceride levels and metabolic health.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) will be measured at baseline and after the intervention to evaluate changes in glycemic control associated with the exercise snacks intervention.
Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention measurements will be used to assess the potential effects of intermittent physical activity on glucose regulation and metabolic status.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline to 12 weeks
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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, %) will be assessed before and after the 12-week intervention to evaluate long-term glycemic control.
Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be conducted to assess the effects of the exercise snacks intervention on average blood glucose levels and diabetes-related metabolic outcomes.
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Baseline to 12 weeks
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Collaboratori e investigatori
Sponsor
Pubblicazioni e link utili
Pubblicazioni generali
- Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, Carty C, Chaput JP, Chastin S, Chou R, Dempsey PC, DiPietro L, Ekelund U, Firth J, Friedenreich CM, Garcia L, Gichu M, Jago R, Katzmarzyk PT, Lambert E, Leitzmann M, Milton K, Ortega FB, Ranasinghe C, Stamatakis E, Tiedemann A, Troiano RP, van der Ploeg HP, Wari V, Willumsen JF. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Dec;54(24):1451-1462. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955.
- Francois ME, Baldi JC, Manning PJ, Lucas SJ, Hawley JA, Williams MJ, Cotter JD. 'Exercise snacks' before meals: a novel strategy to improve glycaemic control in individuals with insulin resistance. Diabetologia. 2014 Jul;57(7):1437-45. doi: 10.1007/s00125-014-3244-6. Epub 2014 May 10.
- Islam H, Gibala MJ, Little JP. Exercise Snacks: A Novel Strategy to Improve Cardiometabolic Health. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2022 Jan 1;50(1):31-37. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000275.
- Stork MJ, Marcotte-Chenard A, Jung ME, Little JP. Exercise in the workplace: examining the receptivity of practical and time-efficient stair-climbing "exercise snacks". Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2024 Jan 1;49(1):30-40. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0128. Epub 2023 Sep 25.
- Brandt T, Schwandner CTL, Schmidt A. Resistance exercise snacks improve muscle mass in female university employees: a prospective, controlled, intervention pilot-study. Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 6;12:1347825. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1347825. eCollection 2024.
- Perkin OJ, McGuigan PM, Stokes KA. Exercise Snacking to Improve Muscle Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Pilot Study. J Aging Res. 2019 Oct 3;2019:7516939. doi: 10.1155/2019/7516939. eCollection 2019.
- Yin M, Zheng H, Bai M, Huang G, Chen Z, Deng S, Lyu M, Deng J, Zhang B, Li H, Zhang X, Liu Q, Little JP, Li Y. Effects of Integrating Stair Climbing-Based Exercise Snacks Into the Campus on Feasibility, Perceived Efficacy, and Participation Perspectives in Inactive Young Adults: A Randomized Mixed-Methods Pilot Study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Dec;34(12):e14771. doi: 10.1111/sms.14771.
- Yin M, Deng S, Chen Z, Zhang B, Zheng H, Bai M, Li H, Zhang X, Deng J, Liu Q, Little JP, Li Y. Exercise snacks are a time-efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness but not maximal fat oxidation in inactive adults: a randomized controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2024 Jul 1;49(7):920-932. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0593. Epub 2024 Apr 3.
- Jenkins EM, Nairn LN, Skelly LE, Little JP, Gibala MJ. Do stair climbing exercise "snacks" improve cardiorespiratory fitness? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2019 Jun;44(6):681-684. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0675. Epub 2019 Jan 16.
- Wang T, Laher I, Li S. Exercise snacks and physical fitness in sedentary populations. Sports Med Health Sci. 2024 Feb 27;7(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2024.02.006. eCollection 2025 Jan.
- Western MJ, Welsh T, Keen K, Bishop V, Perkin OJ. Exercise snacking to improve physical function in pre-frail older adult memory clinic patients: a 28-day pilot study. BMC Geriatr. 2023 Aug 4;23(1):471. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04169-6.
- Tyldesley-Marshall N, Greenfield SM, Parretti HM, Gokal K, Greaves C, Jolly K, Maddison R, Daley AJ; Snacktivity Study Team. Snacktivity to Promote Physical Activity: a Qualitative Study. Int J Behav Med. 2022 Oct;29(5):553-564. doi: 10.1007/s12529-021-10040-y. Epub 2021 Nov 15.
- Jansons P, Fyfe JJ, Dalla Via J, Daly RM, Scott D. Barriers and enablers associated with participation in a home-based pragmatic exercise snacking program in older adults delivered and monitored by Amazon Alexa: a qualitative study. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Mar;35(3):561-569. doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02327-1. Epub 2023 Jan 17.
- Jenkins DG, Devin JL, Weston KL, Jenkins JG, Skinner TL. Benefits beyond cardiometabolic health: the potential of frequent high intensity 'exercise snacks' to improve outcomes for those living with and beyond cancer. J Physiol. 2023 Nov;601(21):4691-4697. doi: 10.1113/JP284985. Epub 2023 Sep 21.
- Fyfe JJ, Dalla Via J, Jansons P, Scott D, Daly RM. Feasibility and acceptability of a remotely delivered, home-based, pragmatic resistance 'exercise snacking' intervention in community-dwelling older adults: a pilot randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatr. 2022 Jun 25;22(1):521. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03207-z.
- Stawarz K, Liang IJ, Alexander L, Carlin A, Wijekoon A, Western MJ. Exploring the Potential of Technology to Promote Exercise Snacking for Older Adults Who Are Prefrail in the Home Setting: User-Centered Design Study. JMIR Aging. 2023 May 24;6:e41810. doi: 10.2196/41810.
- Weston KL, Little JP, Weston M, McCreary S, Kitchin V, Gill A, Niven A, McNarry MA, Mackintosh KA. Application of Exercise Snacks across Youth, Adult and Clinical Populations: A Scoping Review. Sports Med Open. 2025 Mar 18;11(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00829-6.
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