Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of altering meal timing on metabolic processes, appetite regulation, and weight management among overweight or obese individuals.
Methodology:
Participant Selection: Fifty overweight or obese individuals aged 25-55 will be recruited for the study.
Experimental Design: Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups:
Early Eating Group: Participants will consume meals following a schedule where the last meal of the day is completed six-and-a-half hours before bedtime.
Late Eating Group: Participants will consume identical meals, but with the last meal of the day completed two-and-a-half hours before bedtime.
Duration: The study will span over 4 weeks, with participants following their assigned meal schedule for the entire duration.
Measurements: Various physiological parameters will be measured:
Levels of appetite-regulating hormones (e.g., ghrelin, leptin).
Basal metabolic rate and calorie expenditure using indirect calorimetry.
Body composition analysis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
Gene expression related to circadian rhythms and metabolism.
Data Collection: Participants will undergo regular assessments at baseline, weekly intervals, and at the end of the study period to monitor changes in parameters of interest.
Expected Outcomes:
Metabolic Changes: We anticipate that the late eating group will exhibit altered metabolic profiles characterized by decreased calorie expenditure and increased fat storage compared to the early eating group.
Appetite Regulation: The late eating group is expected to experience heightened hunger levels and disrupted satiety signals compared to the early eating group.
Weight Management: Over the course of the study, we hypothesize that adherence to an early meal schedule will lead to better weight management outcomes, including weight loss or weight maintenance, compared to the late meal schedule.
Significance: Understanding the influence of chrono-nutrition on weight management can inform personalized dietary recommendations and lifestyle interventions aimed at combating obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Conclusion: By elucidating the impact of meal timing on metabolic health and weight regulation, this study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the importance of chrono-nutrition in optimizing overall health and well-being.
