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 on metabolic risk in postmenopausal women, who may be particularly vulnerable to disruption of circadian eating rhythms and the associated metabolic dysfunction. It is hypothesized that time-restricted feeding will improve insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, body weight, and other metabolic parameters 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.

postmenopause, weight, metabolic risk, glucose, body composition, lipid, sleep, prediabetes, fasting, circadian, inflammation

Participants in this group will have baseline and post-study data collected, including food timing, activity/sleep data, and metabolic parameters (OGTT, body composition, anthropometric measurements, lipid panel, inflammatory markers). There will be no intervention.

Participants in this group will have baseline and post-study data collected, including food timing, activity/sleep data, and metabolic parameters (OGTT, body composition, anthropometric measurements, lipid panel, inflammatory markers). Subjects in this group will be educated about the health benefits of time-restricted feeding (TRF). Then each subject in the TRF group will self-select a 10-h window during which she will consume all daily calories for 16 weeks.

Subjects will be educated about the health benefits of time-restricted feeding (TRF). Each subject in the TRF group will self-select a 10 hour (10h +/- 1hr) window aligned with their active phase during which they will consume all daily calories. Subjects will text the time of their first and last daily meals for the duration of the study.

Inclusion Criteria: postmenopausal women age 45-65 years sedentary prediabetic or have at least 2 features of metabolic syndrome Exclusion Criteria: on hormone therapy smokers diabetes heart disease any acute or chronic inflammatory condition alcohol consumption of >7 drinks per week significant circadian disruption living with children under 2 years old shift work or irregular lifestyle diagnosed sleep apnea or sleep disorder extreme early or late chronotypes significant psychiatric disorders or ADHD history of dysregulated eating behaviors