Time-restricted eating during pregnancy for people with severe obesity
A pilot study of time-restricted eating among pregnant females with severe obesity
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · NIH-11238975
This project asks whether eating only during a consistent daily time window can help pregnant people with severe obesity limit weight gain and improve blood sugar and lipid levels.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238975 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be asked to follow a daily time-restricted eating schedule, eating only within a set number of hours each day while pregnant and living with severe obesity. Researchers will monitor your weight, blood sugar, blood lipids, and pregnancy outcomes through prenatal visits and blood tests. The pilot will compare these measures over the pregnancy to see if this eating pattern changes metabolic health and birth outcomes. The trial is being done because no clinical trials of time-restricted eating have been conducted in pregnancy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), likely enrolled in the second or early third trimester before 37 weeks gestation.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, who do not meet the BMI threshold, or who have conditions that make fasting or restricted eating unsafe (for example, insulin-dependent diabetes or active eating disorders) are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce excess gestational weight gain, improve glucose and lipid control, and lower some pregnancy-related risks for people with severe obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Time-restricted eating has shown metabolic benefits in non-pregnant adults in prior studies, but this is among the first clinical trials testing the approach during pregnancy.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO — Chicago, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: TUSSING-HUMPHREYS, LISA — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: TUSSING-HUMPHREYS, LISA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.