Does Time Restricted Feeding Improve Glycaemic Control in Overweight Men?

The timing of meals distributed across the wake cycle may play a role in body weight regulation and metabolic health. In rodents, providing an 12 h feeding opportunity during the active phase abrogated the metabolic consequences of a high fat diet, including maintaining leaner body weight and normal glucose homeostasis [5]. In diet-induced obese rodents, switching to a TRF protocol normalised the metabolic milieu by reducing hyperinsulinemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation [6]. Interestingly, when lean animals were switched to a TRF high fat diet protocol, which allowed ad libitum access to the high fat diet for 2 consecutive days per week, simulating a "weekend", lean body weights and metabolic profiles were maintained [6]. These studies suggest that following a TRF protocol is of significant benefit to prevent weight gain, and or to normalise the metabolic milieu.

Observational studies of individuals who undertook the Islamic ritual of fasting during the month of Ramadan [7, 8]. Under these conditions, not only is the timing of food intake restricted, but feeding times are switched to non-daylight hours. The outcomes from these observational studies are mixed, but many have observed reduced cardiovascular risk factors [7, 8]. However, beneficial changes in glycaemic profile are more controversial. One study, using continuous glucose monitors, reported there was a change in the pattern of the glycaemic profile, but no change in overall glycaemia [9]. Other studies have noted that fasting glucose levels are increased following Ramadan [7]. Epidemiological evidence shows that individuals who report consuming more of their daily energy intake at the evening meal were more overweight, than those who reported consumed more of their energy intake before lunch[10]. Similarly, eating lunch late in the day (after 15:00 hrs) was predictive of poorer weight loss during a 20-week dietary intervention study [11] and individuals randomized to consume more calories at breakfast had greater weight loss versus those randomized to eat more calories at dinner after 12 weeks [12]. Taken together these data suggest that consuming more calories in the morning may be beneficial for weight management.

Only a limited number of controlled studies have interrogated the effects of TRF in humans [13-15]. The first was a randomised controlled cross-over intervention, where lean individuals were instructed either to consume all of their calories required for weight maintenance over a 4 hour period from 1700-2100h, or as 3 meals/d for 8 weeks. Consumption of the evening meal was supervised within the laboratory, to ensure subjects consumed the entire meal. Significant reductions in body weight and body fat mass, by 1.4 and 2.1 kg respectively, were noted when following the TRF protocol [13]. Despite this small amount of weight loss, fasting blood glucose levels were increased, and TRF resulted in poorer glucose tolerance in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) [14]. Thus, consuming a single, large "dinner" meal was detrimental for metabolic health, although no differences in insulin response were noted [14]. Gill et al also examined the effects of 10-11h TRF in 8 men who were overweight and reported an habitual eating pattern that usually spanned at least 14 hours. A 3% body weight loss was observed after 2 months of TRF, and this was maintained for 12 months[16]. It is unclear whether responses may have differed if the food allowance was prescribed at breakfast or lunch times. Finally, healthy, lean male subjects were allowed to eat ad libitum for 13h per day (6am-7pm) for 2 weeks. Participants reported eating significantly less on the TRF versus the control condition, and lost -0.4kg compared with a gain of +0.6kg in the control condition [15]. Whilst this is a minor change in body weight, this pattern is not that atypical of modern eating patterns, and further restriction of eating times, and assessment of obese individuals under these conditions is warranted. The metabolic health impacts were not reported in either of these studies.

Screening visit (S) - (Informed consent, screening questionnaire): Participants will be assessed by a screening questionnaire (provided for review) for risk of type 2 diabetes, and for their diet, medical and exercise history to determine their eligibility. Potentially eligible participants will be invited to attend SAHMRI and have the research protocol explained to them in detail. Informed consent to participate in the study, including a verbal indication that they understand the general study protocol and requirements is then obtained. Routine clinical checks are then performed (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure). If participants meet the eligibility criteria, they will be invited to take part in the study.

Baseline assessment and food intake monitoring: In this study, we will use a smartphone-based monitoring and feedback tool (MyCircadianClock app) to monitor the daily pattern of ingestive behaviour, activity and sleep patterns for 1-week, at baseline as well as during weeks 1,3 and 5. This app was developed by our collaborators at Salk Institute, Professor Satchidananda Panda and Dr Emily Manoogian. Participants in our study will be asked to sign up to the MyCircadianClock smartphone app and using the app are asked to take a photograph of any food and drink that they consume, which time stamps when and what was eaten, for later analysis. This app is part of a study conducted by Professor Panda. The Panda lab will share the identifiable data collected through the app from participants of this study, once they have received verification of informed consent from the participant in our study to do so. This is outlined on page 4 of the SIS and consent asked on page 7 of the SIS/consent form. We have attached IRB approval of the MyCircadianClock study, which explains the app in detail.