Time-restricted Eating for Postpartum Weight Loss

Purpose

This study is being done to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a time-restricted eating intervention among postpartum women with overweight/obesity.

Conditions

  • Postpartum Weight Retention
  • Overweight and Obesity

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • 18 years of age or older - Experienced a healthy singleton pregnancy - 6-16 weeks postpartum at enrollment - Body mass index ≥25 at enrollment - Willing to consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • Self-reported major health condition (such as renal disease, cancer, or Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes) - Current treatment for severe psychiatric disorder (such as schizophrenia) - Self-reported diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia - Current use of medication expected to significantly impact body weight - Current substance abuse - Participation in another dietary and/or weight management intervention postpartum - Performing overnight shiftwork >1x/week - Regularly fasting ≥14 hr/day or completing twelve or more 24-hr fasts within the past year - Unable to understand and communicate in English

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
eTRE Intervention 		A 9-hour eating/15-hour fasting time-restricted eating (eTRE) intervention with tapered remote behavioral support sessions delivered by a trained interventionist.
  • Behavioral: Early Time-Restricted Eating (eTRE)
    12 weeks of eTRE intervention. Study staff will provide 7 support sessions with brief behavioral support, including evidence based strategies of problem-solving, action planning, and motivational interviewing.
    Other names:
    • Intermittent Fasting
    • Timed Eating
Active Comparator
Control 		Control condition in which participants are instructed to maintain their baseline eating window with tapered remote behavioral support check-ins delivered by a trained interventionist to encourage maintenance of the baseline eating window.
  • Behavioral: Control
    The control group will be instructed to maintain their average eating window for the 12-week period. Study staff will contact participants 7 times to encourage maintenance.

Recruiting Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama 35294
Contact:
Camille S Worthington, PhD
205-975-7274
cschneid@uab.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Contact

Camille S Worthington, PhD
205.975.7274
cschneid@uab.edu

Detailed Description

Existing postpartum weight retention (PPWR) interventions have had limited success. Timing-based interventions, such as early time-restricted eating (eTRE), show significant improvements in cardiometabolic endpoints in non-postpartum cohorts. The purpose of the Time4Mom study is to conduct a pilot randomized trial of a postpartum-adapted eTRE intervention to test feasibility and acceptability of the eTRE intervention and trial protocol. We will also compare changes in clinical outcomes of interest and patient-reported outcomes between eTRE (intervention) and control groups. This 2-arm trial will randomize 60 postpartum women to either Control or eTRE for 12 weeks (n=30/group).