Exercise as a Buffer Against Stressed-Induced Eating

描述(由申请人提供)：Unick博士是布朗大学沃伦·阿尔伯特医学院的助理教授(研究)，也是Miriam医院体重控制和糖尿病研究中心的运动生理学家。她在匹兹堡大学获得运动生理学博士学位，在那里她也获得了行为减肥治疗的宝贵经验。她的长期目标是成为一名独立的运动/肥胖调查员，拥有一系列研究，专注于了解运动可能有助于长期体重控制的心理因素。目前的应用将通过研究运动是否能减少压力导致的暴饮暴食来增加这一领域的稀少文献。了解运动影响体重控制的基本机制，对于未来的肥胖治疗非常重要。作为指导研究科学家发展奖(K01)的一部分，Unick博士将在以下领域获得广泛的培训：(1)压力反应和压力方法，(2)压力，因为它特别影响肥胖症，(3)锻炼在治疗成瘾中观察到的心理益处，(4) 生态瞬时评估(EMA)和统计分析，(5)负责任的研究行为，和(6)职业发展，重点是成为独立的调查者。这种培训将以教学和实践经验的形式进行，并在一支高素质的导师团队的指导和监督下进行。Unick博士将与她的主要导师，国际公认的肥胖研究人员Rena Wing博士，以及她的多学科合作导师团队[Laura Stroud博士(压力方法论)，Elissa Epel博士(压力与肥胖)，Rick Brown博士(成瘾锻炼)，Ross Crosby博士和Graham Thomas博士(EMA和统计分析)]密切合作。研究将在米里亚姆医院和布朗医学院进行，这是一个非常适合培养初级调查人员的环境，并配备了充分的资源来实施拟议的研究计划。鉴于压力会导致暴饮暴食和糟糕的饮食选择，而且另有一篇文献表明锻炼可以减轻压力，目前的应用试图研究运动训练是否会减少压力诱导的进食这一新问题。我们将首先在严格控制的实验室环境中检查这一点(研究1)，然后过渡到在自由生活环境中检查这一研究问题(研究2)。在研究1中，48名久坐和超重/肥胖的女性将被随机分成两组，一组是为期10周的有监督的运动训练计划(EX)，另一组是不运动控制条件(CON)。参与者将在基线和10周两个不同的场合来到实验室。有一天他们会暴露在心理社会压力源之下，而另一天则会作为无压力的控制日。“应激性进食”将被定义为在应激日暴露于应激源后的能量摄入量减去非应激日的能量摄入量(通过自助餐测量)。据推测，与CON相比，EX会减少“压力诱导的进食”。考虑到在实验室环境中暴露在心理社会压力源和自助餐中可能无法模拟真实世界的情况，研究2将重点关注运动是否能通过使用智能手机和EMA数据收集方法来减少压力引发的暴饮暴食，这些方法旨在自由生活环境中获得“实时”反应。48名久坐、超重/肥胖的女性将被随机分配到10周的监督运动训练(EX)或不运动控制条件(CON)中。参与者将被要求在训练期之前和之后的10天内通过智能手机记录他们的压力、情绪、饥饿感、饮食诱惑/失误以及“暴饮暴食”的情况。据推测，与CON相比，EX会减少“暴饮暴食”和“压力诱导的暴饮暴食”的比例。这项拟议的研究首次考察了运动训练对压力导致的暴饮暴食的影响，填补了运动与肥胖领域的一个重要研究空白。严谨的方法论、随机化的设计和双重方法论的新颖使用(实验室到生活的泛化)使这一应用具有重大意义和创新意义。此外，这些研究将提供丰富的数据集，使Unick博士能够进行额外的探索性和假设生成分析，这也将有助于她向独立研究员的过渡。预计通过正规的课程、实践培训和出色的指导，Unick博士将获得必要的知识和技能，以发展在运动和肥胖领域独立的、由外部资助的研究事业。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dr. Unick is an Assistant Professor (Research) at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University and an exercise physiologist at The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center. She received her PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she also gained valuable experience in behavioral weight loss treatment. Her long-term goal is to become an independent exercise/obesity investigator, with a line of research focused on understanding the psychological factors through which exercise may assist in long-term weight control. The current application would add to the scant literature in this area by examining whether exercise reduces stress-induced overeating. An understanding of the basic mechanisms through which exercise influences weight control, is important for the future of obesity treatment. As part of this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01), Dr. Unick will gain extensive training in the areas of (1) stress responses and stress methodology, (2) stress as it specifically affects obesity, (3) the psychological benefits of exercise as observed in the treatment of addictions, (4) ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and statistical analyses, (5) the responsible conduct of research, and (6) professional development focused on becoming an independent investigator. This training will occur in the form of didactics and hands-on experiences gained under the guidance and supervision of a highly qualified team of mentors. Dr. Unick will work closely with her primary mentor, Dr. Rena Wing, an internationally recognized obesity researcher, as well as her multidisciplinary team of co-mentors [Dr. Laura Stroud (stress methodology), Dr. Elissa Epel (stress and obesity), Dr. Rick Brown (exercise in addictions), and Drs. Ross Crosby and Graham Thomas (EMA and statistical analyses)]. The research will be conducted at The Miriam Hospital & Brown Medical School, an environment well-suited for developing junior investigators and fully equipped with the resources to carry out the proposed research plan. Given that stress contributes to overeating and poor dietary choices and a separate body of literature demonstrating that exercise reduces stress, the current application seeks to examine the novel question of whether exercise training reduces stress-induced eating. We will begin by examining this in a tightly controlled laboratory setting (Study 1) and then transition to the examination of this research question in a free-living environment (Study 2). In Study 1, 48 sedentary and overweight/obese women will be randomized to a 10- week supervised exercise training program (EX) or a no-exercise control condition (CON). Participants will come to the lab on two separate occasions at both baseline and 10 weeks. On one day they will be exposed to a psychosocial stressor while the other day will serve as a no-stress, control day. "Stress-induced eating" will be defined as the energy intake (measured via a buffet meal) following exposure to the stressor on the stress day minus the energy intake on the no-stress day. It is hypothesized that EX will reduce "stress-induced eating" relative to CON. Given that exposure to a psychosocial stressor and buffet meal in a laboratory setting may not mimic real world conditions, Study 2 will focus on whether exercise reduces stress-induced overeating using smart phones and EMA data collection methods, designed to obtain 'real-time' responses in a free living environment. Forty-eight sedentary, overweight/obese women will be randomized to 10 weeks of supervised exercise training (EX) or a no-exercise control condition (CON). Participants will be asked to log their stress, mood, hunger, dietary temptations/lapses, and "overeating" episodes via a smart phone for 10 days before and after the training period. It is hypothesized that EX will reduce the proportion of "overeating" and "stress-induced overeating" episodes, relative to CON. The proposed studies are the first to examine the effects of exercise training on stress-induced overeating, addressing an important research gap in the area of exercise and obesity. The rigorous methodology, randomized design, and novel use of dual methodologies (lab to life generalization) make this application both significant and innovative. Moreover, these studies will provide rich data sets, enabling Dr. Unick to conduct additional exploratory and hypothesis generating analyses, which will also help facilitate her transition to an independent investigator. It is expected that through the formal coursework, hands-on training, and excellent mentorship, Dr. Unick will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop an independent, extramurally funded research career in the area of exercise and obesity.