Are you interested in achieving weight loss goals with science-backed guidance, not guesswork?
Overview
We are looking for healthy men and women aged 25-45 to participate in a research study on personalized weight loss programs. This research is being conducted by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Benefits of Participation
- Receive an aerobic exercise plan with monthly guidance from a certified exercise physiologist
- Learn about your body composition (percentages of fat and fat-free mass)
- Learn about your metabolic efficiency and determine the heart rate and exercise intensity at which you burn the most calories from fat stores
- Find out how many calories your body burns at rest and your daily caloric needs
- Participants will receive a free FitBit Inspire 3 wearable device upon completion of the study
Interested in enrolling in the study?
Interested participants can use this link to coordinate a time to discuss the study and eligibility with our research coordinator. You can also contact the research team at exercisestudy@mssm.edu or call 212-824-7055. Please include the study name “FatMax Study” in the subject line of your inquiries.
Purpose of the study
Physical inactivity and obesity are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. These are cardiometabolic diseases that are commonly managed through weight loss, reduction in fat mass, and a lower BMI. However, success can be limited by poorly designed, non-individualized physical activity interventions.
The purpose of this research study is to understand whether personalized exercise programs based on an individual’s metabolism are more effective and efficient than the current generalized aerobic exercise guidelines for Americans.
To understand whether personalized exercise interventions are more effective than current guidelines, we will recruit participants to undergo different exercise programs. One program will be based on an individual’s personal metabolic response to exercise (how fat or carbohydrate is used as a fuel), and the other will meet the standardized aerobic exercise guidelines.
Determining the effectiveness of personalized weight-loss strategies will help identify novel means by which individuals can reduce body weight and cardiometabolic disease risk.
How does the study work?
Baseline Visit: Participants will visit our research clinic at the Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital (West 114th St and Amsterdam Ave) for a 3-hour baseline visit. During the visit,
- We will measure baseline metabolic rate (the number of calories your body burns at rest in a day).
- We will measure weight, height, and assess body composition (to get percentages of fat and fat-free mass).
- Participants will perform an exercise assessment that measures the heart rate at which the most calories from fat are used to fuel exercise.
- We will ask questions about dietary patterns, physical activity, and medical history.
- We will collect a blood sample and a urine sample.
At the end of the visit, participants will receive:
- A Fitbit wearable fitness tracker to monitor heart rate during exercise
- An exercise program to follow
- Training from the study staff on how to complete the exercises given.
Month 1 – 2: Participants will perform 5 exercise sessions per week, following the program provided to them at the baseline visit. At the end of each week, they will have a phone call with a member of the study team to discuss the exercise program. At the end of each month, participants will be asked questions about their dietary patterns.
Study Visit 2 (end of month 2): Participants will return to the research clinic for a body composition assessment (described above). They will have the opportunity to discuss the exercise program with the study team and will be asked questions about their dietary patterns.
Month 3-4: Participants will perform 5 exercise sessions per week, following the program provided to them at the baseline visit. At the end of each week, they will have a phone call with a member of the study team to discuss the exercise program. At the end of each month, participants will be asked questions about their dietary patterns.
Study Visit 3 (end of month 4): Participants will visit our research clinic at the Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital (West 114th St and Amsterdam Ave) for a final assessment, where they will undergo final assessments of metabolic rate and body composition. Additionally, they will again perform an exercise assessment that measures the heart rate at which the most calories from fat are used to fuel exercise. Lastly, participants will be asked questions about their dietary patterns, and we will collect a blood sample and a urine sample.
The total duration of the study is 4 months.
This study was approved by the Mount Sinai Institutional Review Board: STUDY-24-01265 (approved 11/4/24-10/28/25)