Healthy Eating Patterns During a Lifestyle Intervention

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Obesity; Weight Loss

• Registration Number: NCT01682317
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to address the gap in knowledge regarding the relationship between eating frequency and weight loss.

Detailed Description

Little intervention research has been conducted to examine the influence of eating frequency (EF) on weight loss. It has been hypothesized an increased EF improves appetite control, assisting with better regulation of energy intake, thus decreasing body mass index. Unfortunately, outcomes have not shown greater appetite control with increased EF. Instead, trends favor a lower EF reducing energy intake thereby producing greater weight loss than a higher eating frequency. Thus, a lower eating frequency may lower energy intake via behavioral mechanisms. At thit time no research has examined the behavioral mechanisms that may mediate the relationship between a lower eating frequency and superior adherence to an energy-restricted diet.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-08
• Study First Submitted: 2012-09-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-09-05
• Study First Posted: 2012-09-10
• Primary Completion: 2018-12-31
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-03
• Study Completion: 2025-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• age between 18 and 65 years
• healthy overweight and obese men and women
• body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 45 kg/m squared

Exclusion Criteria

• report a heart condition, chest pain during periods of activity or rest, or loss of consciousness on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR- Q)
• report being unable to walk for 2 blocks (1/4 mile) without stopping
• are currently participating in a weight loss program and/or taking weight loss medication or lost > 5% of body weight during the past 6 months
• diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes
• have had bariatric surgery or are planning to have bariatric surgery in the next 4 months
• intend to move outside of the metropolitan area within the time frame of the investigation
• are pregnant, lactating, < 6 months post-partum, or plan to become pregnant during the investigation

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Diet	0 and 8 weeks	Diet (eating frequency, kilocalories, macronutrients)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Anthropometrics	0 and 8 weeks	Height (0 weeks only), weight and body mass index
Binge Eating	0 and 8 weeks	Assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q), which is a 36-item questionnaire derived from the Eating Disorders Examination interview.
Physical Activity	0 and 8 weeks	Self-reported physical activity will be assessed using the Paffenbarger Activity Questionnaire.
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)	0 and 8 weeks	To evaluate the behavioral mechanisms of eating frequency, PalmPilot-based EMA will be used to collect real-time information on consumption cues.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory, University of Tennessee; 🇺🇸 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States