Time-Restricted Feeding Intervention in Metabolically-Unhealthy Postmenopausal Women

This is a randomized, parallel two-arm clinical trial design to study the efficacy of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on metabolic risk in postmenopausal women. Data will be collected for 18 weeks. Baseline food timing, activity/sleep, and metabolic parameter (OGTT, body composition, anthropometric measurements, lipid panel, inflammatory markers) data will be collected in the first two weeks (baseline). Subjects will then be randomized to the TRF intervention or no TRF for 16 weeks. Subjects in the TRF group will be educated about the health benefits of TRF. Then each subject in the TRF group will self-select a 10-h window and consume all daily calories during this time frame. Subjects in both the TRF and no TRF groups will text the time of their first and last daily meals for the duration of the study. At the end of the 16-week TRF intervention or no TRF, metabolic and anthropometric measurements will be collected.

Inclusion criteria

• postmenopausal women
• age 45-65 years
• prediabetic or have at least 2 features of metabolic syndrome

Exclusion criteria

• on hormone therapy
• diabetes
• heart disease
• alcohol consumption of >2 drinks per day
• significant circadian disruption
• having care-taking responsibilities that significantly affect sleep
• shift work or irregular lifestyle
• uncontrolled sleep apnea or other uncontrolled sleep disorder
• extreme early or late chronotypes
• significant psychiatric disorders
• taking ADHD medications
• diagnosed dysregulated eating behaviors
• smoking >5 cigarettes/day or 30 pack-year history
• participating in formal weight loss program
• not weight stable