How Meal Timing Expectations Affect Eating Behavior and Hormones in Healthy Women Aged 18 to 35

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how the expectation of food availability affects eating behavior, mood, body awareness, and food consumption in healthy women with natural menstrual cycles. This randomized crossover study focuses on understanding how knowing or not knowing meal timing influences decisions, hormone levels, and stress. Participants attend two afternoon sessions after fasting overnight. In one session, meal timing and duration are clearly shared certain condition, while in the other, this information is withheld uncertain condition. Each visit includes cognitive and behavioral tests followed by a buffet meal where women can eat freely. Blood samples are taken at six specific times to measure hormones like ghrelin, leptin, insulin, glucose, and cortisol. Additionally, participants track their food intake using a smartphone app for three days before the first visit. During the study visits, researchers measure food intake, decision-making skills, mood, stress, body signals, and hormone fluctuations. They also assess heart rate, skin responses, and self-reported hunger, fullness, and cravings. The study monitors behavioral and metabolic responses about 30 days apart, gathering detailed data on eating patterns and emotional states. This comprehensive monitoring helps explore how perceived meal certainty impacts various physical and psychological factors.

Decision-making and Food Intake