Acute Time-Restricted Eating in Young Healthy Males

Nottingham Trent University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity Prevention

Treatments: Behavioral: Morning Fasting; Behavioral: Control; Behavioral: Evening Fasting

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05309798

WM_eFAST_2020

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study compared the metabolic response to three different eating windows (morning fast,12pm-8pm; evening fast, 8am-4pm; control, 8am-8pm).

Full description

Humans have evolved as a diurnal species, internally governed by the circadian system, which dictates our hormone regulation. 'Chrononutrition' is a sub-discipline which combines food timing with circadian physiology. The most popular method of time-restricted feeding in the UK is to skip breakfast. However, data from several meta-analysis have shown that skipping breakfast is associated with weight gain and insulin resistance, likely due to eating later into the evening/night and therefore, out of sync with our circadian rhythm. Recent research has shown that skipping dinner (evening fasting) has improved markers of cardio-metabolic health in clinical populations, although these are typically from longer-term studies. Despite these promising findings, it is not yet known whether these findings are population specific.

Therefore, the investigators are interested in examining the metabolic response pre and post-intervention to see whether these promising findings can translate into a healthy population. Furthermore, the investigators will be monitoring subjective appetite, energy intake, and expenditure to assess whether there is any short-term adaptation to a specific feeding window.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• recreationally active
• non-smokers
• non-dieting
• weight stable (self-reported for >6 months)
• were not consuming any medication known to affect appetite or physical activity

Exclusion criteria

• Smokers
• >10 hours per week physical activity
• Have dieted within the past 6 months
• Excessive alcohol consumption (>14 units/week)
• Use of medication or supplements that may affect hormone concentrations.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 3 patient groups

Evening Fasting

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will undertake acute evening fasting (feeding between 8am-4pm)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Evening Fasting

Control

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will undertake an acute standard western feeding pattern (feeding between 8am-8pm).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control

Morning Fasting

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will undertake an acute morning fasting trial (feeding between 12pm-8pm).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Morning Fasting