The CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center is paving the way for innovative research with its TANDEM study, currently recruiting participants. Led by Seth Creasy, PhD, TANDEM investigates how the timing of exercise—morning versus evening—affects metabolism, particularly in different nutritional states (fed vs. fasted).
Why Focus on Timing?
Dr. Creasy explains the study’s motivation, “Recent research shows that metabolism shifts throughout the day, meaning our bodies burn different fuels, like carbohydrates or fats, depending on the time. We want to understand how exercise influences these daily metabolic variations.”
By exploring these connections, the TANDEM study aims to redefine exercise recommendations. “This will be one of the first studies in humans to examine time-dependent responses to exercise,” he notes. “Our findings may help change how we tailor exercise interventions for different diseases.”
Comprehensive Health Assessments
Participants undergo detailed evaluations to capture a full picture of their metabolic responses. “We measure body composition, blood markers, fitness levels, and exercise metabolism, including energy expenditure and fuel utilization,” Dr. Creasy explains. These insights help Dr. Creasy and his team have a look into how different exercise times impact metabolic health.
The primary focus? “We’re especially interested in how the time of day and nutritional state influence the body’s energy expenditure during exercise,” he adds.
Essential Support from AHWC
The CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center helps play a crucial role in TANDEM's success. “The AHWC is indispensable,” Dr. Creasy says. “Participants use the fitness center for supervised exercise sessions, and we conduct our clinical tests there. The metabolic kitchen also helps provide precise diets for the study.”
This state-of-the-art support highlights the Center’s commitment to advancing health research. “It’s incredibly rare to find a single facility that combines a fitness center, clinical research space, and specialized metabolic resources,” he emphasizes.
Shared Vision for Health Innovation
The goals of TANDEM align perfectly with the Center’s broader mission of promoting health and wellness through research. “Both the Center and TANDEM aim to find innovative ways to enhance well-being,” Dr. Creasy notes. “Ultimately, we hope our study informs personalized exercise plans that effectively address specific health challenges.”
As TANDEM progresses, it holds the potential to transform our understanding of exercise timing and metabolism—offering new strategies for personalized health interventions that could benefit countless individuals in the future.
Interested in becoming a participant? See if you qualify!