Weight (kg)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Weight is measured in kilograms (kg) using a calibrated digital scale.
Height (cm)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Height is measured in centimeters (cm) using a wall-mounted stadiometer.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m².
Waist Circumference and Hip Circumference
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Waist and hip circumferences are measured while participants stand straight with their arms extended outward. A non-elastic tape measure is wrapped around the waist and hip, and measurements are taken to the nearest centimeter (cm).
Blood Lipid Profile
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Blood lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting glucose (FG) are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) using the Cholestech LDX Analyzer. Blood samples are obtained via fingerstick, with the first drop wiped away and the second drop collected for analysis. Participants stand or sit comfortably during collection. After blood collection, the site is cleaned and covered with gauze and a bandage as needed. This procedure is minimally invasive and typically causes little discomfort.
Blood Pressure
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), and resting heart rate (RHR) is measured in beats per minute (bpm) using an automated blood pressure monitor. Participants sit quietly for five minutes with minimal movement prior to measurement. A cuff is placed on the right upper arm (bicep area), and the monitor initiates inflation, deflation, and reinflation cycles. Participants are instructed not to move during the measurement process. All equipment is disinfected before and after each use with antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal disposable wipes by a researcher wearing gloves.
Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), a preclinical marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD), is measured in meters per second (m/s) using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor, AtCor Medical). Participants are positioned supine on a padded exam table after resting quietly for approximately five minutes. Brachial blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) using an automated cuff device. Pressure waveforms are recorded at the carotid artery (neck) and femoral artery (upper leg) using a handheld tonometer. The time delay between carotid and femoral pulse waves is used to calculate PWV, an indicator of arterial stiffness. The procedure is non-invasive and typically requires approximately five minutes to complete.
Glucose (mg/dL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of glucose (mg/dL).
Insulin (μIU/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of insulin (μIU/mL).
C-peptide (ng/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of C-peptide (ng/mL).
Total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (pmol/L)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (pmol/L).
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) (pg/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) (pg/mL).
Leptin (ng/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of leptin (ng/mL).
Adiponectin (μg/mL)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of adiponectin (μg/mL).
Ghrelin (pg/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of ghrelin (pg/mL).
C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L).
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (pg/mL)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
After a 10- to 12-hour overnight fast, participants undergo a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the Clinical Research Unit, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Venous blood samples are collected at -15, 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes relative to glucose ingestion. At time 0 minutes, participants consume a commercially prepared standard 75-gram glucose solution; youth participants receive 1.75 grams of glucose per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 75 grams total. After the final blood collection at 120 minutes, participants are provided a snack and continue their study visit. Blood is collected in pre-chilled aprotinin/EDTA tubes and processed for analysis of