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

NCT07062315 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: NTEC-2025-189
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Visceral fat mass

  Visceral fat mass will be assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

  12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Subcutaneous fat mass

  12 weeks

• Body weight

  12 weeks

• Body mass index (BMI)

  12 weeks

• Body composition (Fat mass, fat free mass)

  12 weeks

• Anthropometric measures

  12 weeks

Other Outcomes (2)

• Objectively physical activity levels

  12 weeks

• Chronotype

  12 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Chronotype-matched TRE

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Behavioral: Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating

Chronotype-unmatched TRE

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Behavioral: Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating

Waitlist control

NO INTERVENTION

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.

Interventions

Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating BEHAVIORAL

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

Chronotype-matched TRE

Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating BEHAVIORAL

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

Chronotype-unmatched TRE

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Chinese adults, male or female, aged between 18-65 years old;
• BMI of 23 kg/m² or higher, with a waist circumference exceeding 80 cm for females and 90 cm for males;
• Weight stability for at least three months prior to the start of the study;
• 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;
• Baseline eating duration exceeding 12 hours per day;
• Identified as either early or late chronotypes (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire)

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals currently or chronically receiving pharmacological treatment for hypertension, diabetes, weight loss, or other metabolic conditions;
• Night shift workers;
• Individuals with eating disorders;
• Female participants who are breast-feeding, pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant;
• Individuals currently participating in other weight-management programs or following other prescribed diet programs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

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

Hong Kong, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity, Abdominal; Intermittent Fasting

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obesity; Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Fasting; Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2025
• First Posted: July 14, 2025
• Study Start: July 31, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)