Healthy Eating Patterns During a Lifestyle Intervention

NCT ID: NCT01682317

Last Updated: 2025-04-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2012-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to address the gap in knowledge regarding the relationship between eating frequency and weight loss.

Detailed Description

Little intervention research has been conducted to examine the influence of eating frequency (EF) on weight loss. It has been hypothesized an increased EF improves appetite control, assisting with better regulation of energy intake, thus decreasing body mass index. Unfortunately, outcomes have not shown greater appetite control with increased EF. Instead, trends favor a lower EF reducing energy intake thereby producing greater weight loss than a higher eating frequency. Thus, a lower eating frequency may lower energy intake via behavioral mechanisms. At thit time no research has examined the behavioral mechanisms that may mediate the relationship between a lower eating frequency and superior adherence to an energy-restricted diet.

Conditions

Obesity; Weight Loss

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Three Meal

Participants in this condition will be instructed to limit their number of eating frequency to three meals per day.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Eating Frequency

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Thirty adults will be provided an 8-week standard lifestyle intervention, that includes a 1200-1500 kcal/day, \< 30% energy from fat dietary prescription, and a physical activity goal of 200 minutes/week. Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions differing in EF using a prescription we have tested previously. One condition will limit the number of eating bouts/day to three (Three Meal), while the second condition will consume at least 100 kcal every 2 to 3 hours which should lead to approximately 6 eating bouts/day (Grazing).

Grazing

Participants in the increased eating frequency condition will be instructed to eat \> 100 kcals every 2-3 hours.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Eating Frequency

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Thirty adults will be provided an 8-week standard lifestyle intervention, that includes a 1200-1500 kcal/day, \< 30% energy from fat dietary prescription, and a physical activity goal of 200 minutes/week. Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions differing in EF using a prescription we have tested previously. One condition will limit the number of eating bouts/day to three (Three Meal), while the second condition will consume at least 100 kcal every 2 to 3 hours which should lead to approximately 6 eating bouts/day (Grazing).

Interventions

Eating Frequency

Thirty adults will be provided an 8-week standard lifestyle intervention, that includes a 1200-1500 kcal/day, \< 30% energy from fat dietary prescription, and a physical activity goal of 200 minutes/week. Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions differing in EF using a prescription we have tested previously. One condition will limit the number of eating bouts/day to three (Three Meal), while the second condition will consume at least 100 kcal every 2 to 3 hours which should lead to approximately 6 eating bouts/day (Grazing).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age between 18 and 65 years
• healthy overweight and obese men and women
• body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 45 kg/m squared

Exclusion Criteria

• report a heart condition, chest pain during periods of activity or rest, or loss of consciousness on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR- Q)
• report being unable to walk for 2 blocks (1/4 mile) without stopping
• are currently participating in a weight loss program and/or taking weight loss medication or lost > 5% of body weight during the past 6 months
• diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes
• have had bariatric surgery or are planning to have bariatric surgery in the next 4 months
• intend to move outside of the metropolitan area within the time frame of the investigation
• are pregnant, lactating, < 6 months post-partum, or plan to become pregnant during the investigation

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Hollie Raynor

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hollie A Raynor, PhD, RD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Tennessee

Locations

Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory, University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

UTK IRB# FWA 6629

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id