Actively Recruiting
Changes in 24-hour Activity Cycle Behaviors During a Time-Restricted Eating Intervention in College-Aged Women
Led by University of Georgia · Updated on 2026-04-09
36
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
60 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Time-restricted Eating (TRE) is a dietary approach that limits food intake to 4 - 12-hour windows without intentionally altering diet quality. TRE has several benefits including modest reductions in body weight and fat mass, improved glucose control, and reduced inflammatory markers. While research supports the metabolic and weight related benefits of TRE, there is limited evidence of its effects on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep - the core components of 24-hour Activity Cycle (24-HAC), which is a holistic framework that integrates the three health-related activities. TRE research has largely focused on clinical populations, leaving its feasibility and adherence in healthy younger adults understudied. Within this group, college students' misaligned circadian rhythms and unpredictable schedules may make adherence to TRE challenging, highlighting the need for research on its practicality in this group. These outcomes are also particularly important to investigate in women, considering that SB is more prevalent among college-aged women (69%) compared to men (46%). To address these issues, we will conduct a three-week intervention to study the effects of TRE on the 24-HAC outcomes. College aged women will be screened and enrolled, then assigned to either a control or TRE group. Participants in the TRE group will self-select the timing of their 8-hour eating window which they will maintain throughout the study (with compliance on at least six days per week needed to be considered adherent). The control group will receive a basic nutrition education at the start of the study and will have no restriction on eating times. 24 HAC behaviors will be measured continuously for one-week of baseline measurement and throughout the intervention by wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X monitors. Participants will also record the timing of their first and last meal each day and receive periodic reminders to report their hunger and satiety ratings using visual analog scales.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Changes in 24-hour Activity Cycle Behaviors During a Time-Restricted Eating Intervention in College-Aged Women
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Female undergraduate and graduate students
- Enrolled full-time at University of Georgia
- Aged 18 to 26 years
You will not qualify if you...
- Having chronic diseases affected by diet changes such as type 1 or 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, liver or kidney impairment, inflammatory bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal diseases
- Using nicotine, thyroid medications, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or melatonin
- Having clinically diagnosed sleep disorders
- Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks per day
- Having clinically diagnosed or undiagnosed eating disorders
- Being a Division-1 student athlete
- Being pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy within 6 months
- Having major walking or mobility disorders
- Recently (within two weeks) engaging in caloric restriction, timing-based diets, weight loss regimens, or specialized diets like ketogenic or paleo
- Needing to take medication with food
- Habitual eating windows shorter than 10 hours
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Physical Activity Measurement Lab
Athens, Georgia, United States, 30605
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
T
Tejaswi Tamilmani Saraswathi, MS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
2
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