The “Movie Theater” Study: Acute Cardiometabolic Effects of a Cinema-Style Meal

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Meals eaten at movie theaters may have acute, negative health effects due to high refined sugar and moderate sodium content. We aimed to characterize the cardiometabolic response to movie-theater-style meals independently (fasting) and after high-fat meal consumption. <b>Methods</b>: Participants (N = 10; 5M/5F; 18-45 y) completed two meal trials (randomized). At both trials, participants ate a movie-theater-style meal (popcorn, candy, and soda; 884 kcal, 150 g sugar, and 700 mg sodium). At one trial, the movie theater meal was consumed while fasting (Fasting Trial). At the other trial, a high-fat meal (820 kcal; 56 g fat) was consumed 3.5 h prior to the movie theater meal (Fed Trial). Blood was collected (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h) and endothelial function (i.e., flow-mediated dilation or FMD) was assessed (0, 2, and 4 h) at both trials. Serum metabolic markers (glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and HDL-C) and biomarkers of intestinal permeability (sCD14 and LBP) were measured. Mixed-model ANOVAs (meal × time) and change scores (Δ) were used to compare responses between trials. <b>Results</b>: At both trials, glucose, insulin, and triglycerides increased, while HDL-C decreased (<i>p</i>_time's ≤ 0.05). ΔInsulin (<i>p</i> = 0.02), but not Δglucose, was higher at Fasting versus Fed. Peak glucose (range = 86-178 mg/dL) and insulin (range = 28.3-307.6 mU/L) were highly variable between participants across trials. Absolute and percent FMD tended to decrease, regardless of trial (<i>p</i>_time's ≥ 0.08). <b>Conclusions</b>: Overall, the movie theater meal impacted a number of cardiometabolic factors when consumed independently and after a high-fat meal, although there was notable inter-individual variability.