Acute Time-Restricted Eating in Young Healthy Males
Condition: Obesity Prevention
Study type: Interventional

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

Detailed 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.
    

Intervention name(s): Evening Fasting; Morning Fasting; Control
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will undertake acute evening fasting (feeding between 8am-4pm) for one day. After which they will attend the laboratory, following a 16 h fast, where baseline measures will be taken and the response to a standardised meal will take place. The participant will also have an opportunity to feed ad-libitum before they leave the laboratory.; Participants will undertake an acute morning fasting trial (feeding between 12pm-8pm). After which, participants will visit the laboratory the following day, after a 16 h fast, where baseline measures will be taken and the response to a standardised meal will take place. The participant will also have an opportunity to feed ad-libitum before they leave the laboratory.; Participants will undertake an acute standard western feeding pattern (feeding between 8am-8pm). After which, participants will visit the laboratory the following day, after a 12 h fast, where baseline measures will be taken and the response to a standardised meal will take place. The participant will also have an opportunity to feed ad-libitum before they leave the laboratory.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Intervention model description: The study design is a randomised, controlled, crossover design in which participants undertake three conditions in a randomised order with at least one week in between trials.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Chrononutrition; Time-Restricted Eating; Energy Balance; Glycaemic Control