Recruiting

Stair Climbing

Sponsor:

St. Louis University

Code:

NCT07849439

Conditions

Overweight , Obesity

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks

Study Details

Brief summary:

This pilot study will evaluate whether brief bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day for two weeks can improve metabolic health, cardiovascular fitness, and other health-related outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity who do not regularly exercise. Participants will complete approximately 6-8 brief stair-climbing "exercise snacks" per day for 14 days, with each bout consisting of approximately 60 total stair steps performed at a challenging but safe self-selected pace.

Participants will complete baseline and post-intervention assessments at Saint Louis University. These assessments will include continuous glucose monitoring and standardized meal testing to evaluate glucose responses, as well as measures of aerobic fitness, anaerobic power, body composition, waist circumference, and muscular strength. The study will also evaluate adherence, perceived exercise intensity, and the feasibility of incorporating brief stair-climbing bouts into daily life.

Conditions

Overweight , Obesity

Study ID

NCT07849439

Start date

Oct, 2026

Status verified date

Sep, 2026

Completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-35 years and able to provide informed consent.
  • Body mass index (BMI) 25.0-34.99 kg/m² and otherwise healthy, without chronic disease.
  • Sedentary or low-active lifestyle, defined as no regular structured exercise ≥3 days/week for ≥30 minutes per session during the past 3 months.
  • Access to a safe staircase that permits completion of approximately 60 total stair steps per exercise bout. Approximately 60 upward steps are preferred when available; one or more flights may be used repeatedly if needed.
  • No contraindications or increased-risk findings identified on the PAR-Q+ or health history screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, renal, neurological, or musculoskeletal disease, or signs or symptoms suggesting increased risk during vigorous exercise, including diagnosed diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, kidney disease, fainting or unexplained dizziness during exercise, chest pain with exertion, or severe shortness of breath with mild-to-moderate activity.
  • Current use of medications that may affect exercise tolerance, heart-rate response, balance, glucose metabolism, or safety during vigorous exercise, including insulin or other glucose-lowering medications, beta-blockers, anti-arrhythmic medications, systemic corticosteroids, or medications that may cause dizziness, impaired balance, or altered exercise response.
  • Orthopedic or joint conditions that could be aggravated by repeated stair climbing.
  • Allergy, intolerance, dietary restriction, or other condition preventing safe consumption of the standardized meal replacement shake.
  • Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during the study period.
  • Any other medical or psychological condition that, in the investigator's judgment, could make adherence difficult or place the participant at risk.
  • Individuals currently enrolled in a course taught by the PI or other study personnel, or who are directly supervised, graded, or formally evaluated by a member of the study team.

Study Design

Enrollment

12 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Prevention

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Two-Week Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks

Participants will complete a two-week stair-climbing exercise snack intervention. They will perform approximately 6-8 brief stair-climbing bouts per day for approximately 14 days. Each bout will include approximately 60 total stair steps completed at a self-selected challenging but safe pace. Participants will otherwise be asked to maintain their usual diet and lifestyle and avoid beginning a new exercise or diet program during the study.

Interventions

Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks

Participants will perform brief stair-climbing exercise snacks 6-8 times per day for 14 days. Each bout will consist of approximately 60 total stair steps completed at a self-selected challenging but safe pace. When possible, participants will complete approximately 60 upward steps. If 60 continuous upward steps are not available, participants may use one or more flights repeatedly by ascending and descending carefully until approximately 60 total steps are completed. The intervention will be completed independently in participants' usual daily environments, such as home, work, or campus. Participants will be instructed to use the handrail when needed, descend slowly and carefully, and not run down the stairs.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in 2-Hour Postprandial Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1) and post-intervention (Day 15) ]
  • Change in CGM-Derived Glucose Standard Deviation [ Time Frame: Early intervention (Days 2-4) and late intervention (Days 11-13) ]
  • Change in Aerobic Capacity (VO₂max or Estimated VO₂max) [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) and post-intervention (Day 15) ]
  • Change in CGM-Derived Glucose Coefficient of Variation [ Time Frame: Early intervention (Days 2-4) and late intervention (Days 11-13) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD

314-977-8675hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu

Locations

Saint Louis University

Recruiting

St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63104

Contacts

Hossein Rafiei, PhD RD

314-977-8675hossein.rafiei@health.slu.edu

Principal Investigator:

Hossein Rafiei, PhD, RD

More Information

Sponsor

St. Louis University

Last update posted

Sep 30, 2026

Last verified

Sep, 2026

Keywords

  • Exercise Snacks
  • Stair Climbing
  • Physical Activity
  • Metabolic Health
  • Postprandial Glucose
  • Continuous Glucose Monitoring
  • Glycemic Variability
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness
  • Body Composition
  • Anaerobic Power
  • Overweight
  • Obesity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-01. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by St. Louis University on 2026-09-30. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.