Effect of Time-restricted Eating on Catecholamine-sensitivity of Adipose Tissue in Obese Adults

NCT ID: NCT04916730

Last Updated: 2025-10-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 61 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-12-17
• Study Completion Date: 2026-01-01

Brief Summary

In a randomized controlled trial, the investigators intend to measure the health impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) in obese patients (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2), who habitually eat for more than 14 hours every day. Patients will be randomly assigned to a control group of behavioral nutritional counseling (standard of care) or the intervention group of behavioral nutrition counseling with the addition of adopting a 10-hour eating window for 12 weeks (TRE).

Detailed Description

The current worldwide epidemic of obesity puts millions of people at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and while insulin resistance has been a traditional focus of treatment, resistance to catecholamines in obesity is likely a key factor hampering weight loss efforts. Catecholamines are key drivers of lipolysis in adipose tissue and bind to beta-3 adrenergic receptors (ADRB3) on the surface of adipocytes. Chronic inflammation is characteristic of obesity and suppresses the expression of adipocyte ADRB3, increasing fat storage. This leaves adipose tissue metabolically inflexible and in a state of energy preservation instead of burning fat to promote and maintain weight loss. Thus, catecholamine resistance of adipose tissue is an important target for lifestyle and therapeutic intervention. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a therapeutic intervention that promotes weight loss and healthier metabolism by aligning dietary intake with circadian rhythms. In this RCT, individuals with obesity will be enrolled in a 14-week study of TRE and behavioral nutritional counseling vs behavioral nutritional counseling alone. In the TRE group, dietary intake will be limited to a self-selected 10-hour window. Information will be collected about adipose tissue catabolism (lipolysis) using samples collected by adipose tissue biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue.

Conditions

Obesity

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Standard of Care (SOC)

Participants will receive standard of care nutritional behavioral counseling and will be required to log their caloric intake through the use of a smartphone app.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Standard of Care

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will receive nutritional counseling from the study dietician but will not be required to adopt a 10-hr eating window.

TRE + SOC

Participants in this arm will receive standard of care nutritional behavioral counseling and will implement a daily, self-selected, 10-hour window within which they must consume all calories. They will also be required to log their caloric intake through the use of a smartphone app

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Time Restricted Eating

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will adhere to a daily, consistent self-selected 10-hr eating window for the course of the study intervention period as well as receive nutritional counseling from the study dietitian.

Interventions

Standard of Care

Participants in this arm will receive nutritional counseling from the study dietician but will not be required to adopt a 10-hr eating window.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Time Restricted Eating

Participants in this arm will adhere to a daily, consistent self-selected 10-hr eating window for the course of the study intervention period as well as receive nutritional counseling from the study dietitian.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age: ≥ 18 years old

2. BMI 30-50 kg/m2

3. Own a smartphone with Apple iOS or Android OS

4. Baseline eating window ≥ 14 hours/day

5. If patients are on cardiovascular medications (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), other lipid modifying drugs (including over the counter drugs such as red yeast rice and fish oil), anti-hypertensive drugs, no dose adjustments will be allowed during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Taking insulin or anti-diabetic medications within the last 6 months.

2. Manifest diabetes, defined as fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, or diagnosis of diabetes.

3. Currently taking any medication that is meant for, or has known effect on, appetite or body weight

4. Pregnant or breast-feeding women.

5. Caregiver for a dependent requiring frequent nocturnal care/sleep interruptions. Shift workers with variable (e.g. nocturnal) hours.

6. Planned international travel (time zone changes) during study period.

7. Taking therapeutic anticoagulation which might increase risk of bleeding from adipose tissue biopsy

8. History of surgical intervention for weight loss.

9. History of eating disorder

10. Currently enrolled in a weight-loss or weight-management program

11. On a special or prescribed diet for other reasons (e.g. Celiac disease)

12. Known inflammatory and/or rheumatologic disease

13. Active tobacco abuse or illicit drug use or history of treatment for alcohol abuse

14. History of bone marrow or solid organ transplant

15. History of heart failure

16. History of major adverse cardiovascular events (acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)).

17. History of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter

18. History of malignancy, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, that is currently being treated, or that has not been treated with definitive therapy and considered to be in remission.

19. History of hypo- or hyperthyroidism requiring dose titration of thyroid replacement medication(s) within the past 3 months (i.e. hypothyroidism on a stable dose of thyroid replacement therapy is not an exclusion)

20. History of adrenal disease

21. History of cirrhosis

22. History of stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis

23. History of HIV/AIDS

24. Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder (including history of hospitalization for psychiatric illness).

25. History of obstructive sleep apnea (not on stable positive pressure therapy or other treatment for at least 3 months prior to enrollment)

26. Abnormal screening labs: renal dysfunction (eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2), anemia, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, coagulopathy, abnormal liver function (AST, ALT > 3x upper limit of normal)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Salk Institute for Biological Studies

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of California, San Diego

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Michael Wilkinson

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Michael J Wilkinson, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Diego

Locations

Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute

La Jolla, California, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

201076

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id