An interventional study of Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating and Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating in Central Obesity and Time Restricted Eating, sponsored by Chinese University of Hong Kong. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-31.
Sponsored by Chinese University of Hong Kong · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
294 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity, Abdominal; 45 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 90 is above the median of 58 across 234 interventional studies indexed under Obesity, Abdominal.
Browse Obesity, Abdominal studies →Chinese University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,454 studies on the registry; 474 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will eat ad libitum within an 8-hour eating window that match their chronotype.
Behavioral: Chronotype-matched time-restricted eating
Participants will eat ad libitum within an 8-hour eating window that unmatch their chronotype.
Behavioral: Chronotype-unmatched time-restricted eating
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.
A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that match participants' chronotype
A 12 weeks time-restricted eating intervention that not match participants' chronotype
Visceral fat mass
Visceral fat mass will be assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Subcutaneous fat mass
Subcutaneous fat mass will be assessed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Body weight
Body weight (kg) will be measured by a bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) with minimum clothing.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI (kg/m2) will be calculated using body weight (kg) and height (m)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Body composition (Fat mass, fat free mass)
Body composition including fat mass and fat-free mass (kg) will be measured by bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) with minimum clothing.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Anthropometric measures
Waist and hip circumferences (cm) will be assessed by standard procedures using a tension tape accurate to 0.1 cm. The waist-hip ratio will be calculated accordingly.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Fasting glucose metabolism
Fasting blood samples will be used to analyze biomarkers of glucose metabolism, including fasting glucose (mmol/L), fasting insulin (mU/L), HbA1c (mmol/mol), as well as derived indices (HOMA-IR) calculated from fasting glucose and insulin levels.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Fasting lipid metabolism
Fasting blood samples will be used to analyze different biomarkers of lipid metabolism including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Dietary patterns
Dietary pattern including eating window and dietary intake will be assessed using a seven-day food record
Time frame: 12 weeks
Subjective sleep quality
Subjective sleep quality will be assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Objectively sleep quality
Objectively sleep quality will be assessed by accelerometer
Time frame: 12 weeks
Subjective quality of life
Quality of life will be assessed through questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Appetite
Appetite will be measured by visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Objectively physical activity levels
Objectively physical activity levels will be assessed by accelerometer, including time spent in sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Time frame: 12 weeks
Chronotype
Chronotype will be assessed through Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire
Time frame: 12 weeks
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Jul 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2026, 15 months after the start.
Of 106 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Obesity, Abdominal, half reached primary completion within 16 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 29. This study's planned 15 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 116 studies reached it within 16 months; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 33.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Chinese University of Hong Kong →