NCT07393607

Effects of Acute Sleep Deprivation on Human Behaviours

Acute Effects of Partial Sleep Deprivation on Appetite, Energy Intake and Physical Activity

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 20 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will investigate whether acute sleep deprivation affects appetite, eating behavior, and physical activity in both regular exercisers and physically inactive individuals.

Detailed description

Prior to the main trials, participants will complete assessments of V̇O2max and maximal muscle strength within 7 to 14 days before the main trials. They will also record one week of daily physical activity, sleep patterns, and diet (including two weekdays and one weekend day) to ensure they meet the inclusion criteria. Participants will be healthy males aged 20 to 45, grouped according to their habitual activity levels. 1. Sedentary: fewer than 7,000 steps/day, no regular exercise in the past 6 months. 2. Regular Aerobic Exercise: Running or cycling at least 2-3 times/week for the past 6 months. 3. Regular Resistance Exercise: Engaging in resistance exercise at least 2-3 times/week for the past 6 months, with minimal aerobic training. Day 1: Physical activity is restricted to a minimum, with no exercise permitted. Participants are allowed to eat freely before 15:00; however, all food intake will be recorded to enable replication prior to the subsequent main trial. Napping is not permitted. Participants will arrive at the laboratory between 18:30 and 19:00. Subjective appetite sensations and food preferences will be assessed. Participants will have either an 8-hour sleep opportunity in the laboratory from 23:00 to 07:00 (i.e., normal sleep trial) or a 3-hour sleep opportunity from 03:00 to 07:00 (i.e., partial sleep deprivation trial). Day 2: Participants will wake at 07:00. After completing personal hygiene, they will rest for 20 minutes to ensure full alertness. At 07:30, a 20-minute resting metabolic rate assessment will be conducted, alongside the collection of heart rate variability and muscle oxygen saturation data. Subsequently, pulse wave velocity measurement, cognitive function tests, subjective questionnaires, and a computerized food preference test will be administered. After the baseline assessment, a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) will be administered. Visual analogue scale assessments-including sleep, appetite, and mood-will be conducted every 30 minutes during the OGTT. Food preferences will be measured 180 minutes after the completion of the OGTT. Upon leaving the laboratory, participants will be provided with a pedometer and wearable devices and instructed to record dietary intake (using a food scale and photographic records), sleep, and glucose values on the experimental day and for the following four consecutive days.

Conditions

• Physical Activity
• Energy Intake
• Appetite
• Food Choice

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Normal sleep	Participants will have an 8-hour sleep opportunity in the lab from 23:00 to 07:00.
BEHAVIORAL	Partial sleep deprivation	Participants will have a 3-hour sleep opportunity in the lab from 03:00 to 07:00.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2027-03-01
• Completion: 2027-03-01
• First posted: 2026-02-06
• Last updated: 2026-02-06