ACUTE EFFECTS OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION (tDCS) COMBINED WITH AEROBIC EXERCISE IN TREATING FOOD COMPULSION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Purpose: To investigate whether one session of transcranial direct current (tDCS) stimulation alone or combined with aerobic exercise (AE) could reduce food consumption and the perception of hunger and satiety in patients with binge eating disorder. Materials and Methods: Adult individuals with BED were recruited in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Participants received one session (1) active tDCS, (2) placebo and AE tDCS or (3) active tDCS and AE. tDCS was applied at 2mA / 20 min, with the anode over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital region. The AE was performed on a treadmill after tDCS, with initial warm-up and intensity of 60-65% of HRmax, repeating the evaluations at the end. Primary outcomes included measures of food intake and perceptions of hunger, satiety and desire. Results: The tDCS group had lower values of lean mass and triglycerides compared to the other groups. However, in relation to food intake, hunger, satiety throughout the day, and uncontrollable desire to eat, tDCS alone or combined were equally effective. Conclusions: tDCS alone or combined with AE improved clinical outcomes in patients with BED. To our knowledge, to date, this is the first study showing that the association of tDCS with aerobic exercise to relieve symptoms of patients with BE. Test record: ReBEC identifier RBR-3d8fd2.