Impact of Chronotype-Based Time-Restricted Eating on Visceral Fat and Metabolic Health in Physically Inactive Adults With Central Obesity

NCT ID: NCT07062315

Last Updated: 2025-07-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

Time-restricted eating (TRE) has gained attention as a promising dietary strategy for enhancing body composition and metabolic health. This innovative eating pattern involves confining daily food intake to a specific window, typically spanning 6-10 hours. Given the lack of consensus on the optimal TRE strategy, this research explores whether tailoring eating windows to individual chronotypes enhances TRE outcomes. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of chronotype-matched versus chronotype-unmatched TRE protocols, compared to a control group, over a 12-week period on visceral fat mass and other metabolic health outcomes in physically inactive adults with central obesity. Additionally, the study seeks to determine whether chronotype-matched TRE offers greater benefits in terms of visceral fat reduction and metabolic improvements compared to chronotype-unmatched TRE. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and after the 12-week intervention.

Conditions

Central Obesity; Time Restricted Eating

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Chronotype-matched TRE

Participants will eat ad libitum within an 8-hour eating window that match their chronotype.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that match participants' chronotype

Chronotype-unmatched TRE

Participants will eat ad libitum within an 8-hour eating window that unmatch their chronotype.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that not match participants' chronotype

Waitlist control

Participants in the waitlist control group will be instructed to maintain their previous eating or physical activity habits during the 12-week intervention. They will not receive any specific dietary advice or guidance. Weekly check-ins will be conducted to confirm continued participation and adherence. If they wish to participate, we will provide a suitable intervention after the duration of the study period.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating

A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that match participants' chronotype

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating

A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that not match participants' chronotype

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Chinese adults, male or female, aged between 18-65 years old;

2. BMI of 23 kg/m² or higher, with a waist circumference exceeding 80 cm for females and 90 cm for males;

3. Weight stability for at least three months prior to the start of the study;

4. Physically inactive, indicated by not meeting established WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior (i.e., at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or at least 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise; or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity throughout the week;

5. Baseline eating duration exceeding 12 hours per day;

6. Identified as either early or late chronotypes (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Individuals currently or chronically receiving pharmacological treatment for hypertension, diabetes, weight loss, or other metabolic conditions;

2. Night shift workers;

3. Individuals with eating disorders;

4. Female participants who are breast-feeding, pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant;

5. Individuals currently participating in other weight-management programs or following other prescribed diet programs.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Dai Zihan

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , China

Countries

China

Central Contacts

Zihan Dai, MSc

Role: CONTACT

daizh@link.cuhk.edu.hk

+852 3943 6757

Stephen H.S. Wong, PhD

Role: CONTACT

hsswong@cuhk.edu.hk

Other Identifiers

NTEC-2025-189

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id