Effects of the Buchinger Wilhelmi Fasting Program and Exercise on Physical Fitness and Sleep Quality

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Buchinger Wilhelmi prolonged fasting: Participants will undergo the medically supervised Buchinger Wilhelmi prolonged fasting program for at least 4 consecutive days. During fasting, participants will receive approximately 200-250 kcal/day, primarily from vegetable juices and vegetable broth, together with non-caloric fluids.

Online exercise program: Participants will complete a 21-day study-specific remotely delivered exercise program before admission to the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic. The program provides structured exercise training before the prolonged fasting period.

Supervised exercise program during prolonged fasting: Participants will complete a study-specific supervised exercise program during the prolonged fasting period at the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic. Exercise sessions will be conducted under professional supervision and adapted to participants' individual physical capacity.

Study summary

Type of Study: Clinical Trial

Goal: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether combining the Buchinger Wilhelmi prolonged fasting program with a structured exercise program can improve physical fitness, body composition, cardiometabolic health, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The study will also investigate metabolic responses to prolonged fasting and whether these responses are influenced by exercise.

Participant Population/Health Conditions: The study will involve adults attending the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic who undergo the prolonged fasting program and meet the study eligibility criteria.

Main Questions:

* Does structured exercise performed before and/or during prolonged fasting enhance its effects on physical fitness, body composition, and cardiometabolic health?
* Does structured exercise improve sleep quality and health-related quality of life during prolonged fasting?

Participants Will:

* Undergo the Buchinger Wilhelmi prolonged fasting program.
* Choose whether to complete an online exercise program before the clinical stay and/or a supervised exercise program during fasting.
* Undergo physiological, physical fitness, and body composition assessments before and after the intervention.
* Provide blood samples to assess cardiometabolic and metabolic responses.
* Complete assessments of sleep and health-related quality of life.

Comparison Groups: Researchers will compare the four study conditions to determine whether structured exercise performed before and/or during prolonged fasting enhances the physiological, metabolic, and functional effects of the Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting program.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Handgrip Strength — Baseline and Day 4 to Day 28 (final fasting day, depending on participant)
  Change from baseline in mean bilateral handgrip strength (kg) to the end of the fasting period, assessed using a handgrip dynamometer. For each hand, three trials will be performed and averaged. The mean values obtained for the right and left hands will then be averaged to obtain one bilateral handgrip strength value per participant.

Trial sites (1)

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