Time-restricted eating versus daily calorie cutting for weight loss and colon health

Effects of Time-restricted Eating versus Daily Continuous Calorie Restriction on Body Weight and Colorectal Cancer Risk Markers among Adults with Obesity

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11195096

This project compares eating only during a daily time window to regular calorie cutting to help adults with obesity lose weight and improve markers linked to colorectal cancer risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11195096 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, you'll be asked to follow either a time-restricted eating schedule (eat only during a set number of hours each day) or a daily continuous calorie-restricted plan while researchers track your weight and health. The team will collect blood and other routine measures tied to inflammation, insulin resistance, and other markers linked to colorectal cancer risk. The program builds on short pilot trials that found modest weight loss and improved metabolic markers. Visits and tests will be done at the study site over the trial period to monitor safety and progress.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with obesity (age 21 and older) who are willing to follow a daily time-restricted eating schedule or a calorie-reduction plan and attend study visits.

Not a fit: People without obesity or those who cannot safely fast or change eating patterns for medical reasons may not gain benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a simpler, more sustainable way to lose weight and lower biological signs tied to colorectal cancer risk.

How similar studies have performed: Short-term pilot studies showed about 3% average weight loss and improvements in blood pressure, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, but long-term benefits remain unproven.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.