Time-restricted eating versus daily calorie cutting for weight loss and colon health
Official title: Effects of Time-restricted Eating versus Daily Continuous Calorie Restriction on Body Weight and Colorectal Cancer Risk Markers among Adults with Obesity
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11195096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $957,734 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA257807-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
People without obesity or those who cannot safely fast or change eating patterns for medical reasons may not gain benefit from this approach.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Time-restricted eating vs daily calorie restriction for obesity and colorectal cancer risk
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This study is looking at whether eating all your meals within a set time each day can help adults with obesity lose weight and improve health markers related to colorectal cancer risk, compared to just cutting calories throughout the day.
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Comparing time-restricted eating and continuous calorie restriction for weight loss and colorectal cancer risk in obese adults
This study is looking at how two different eating plans—one where you eat all your meals in a set time each day and another where you simply eat fewer calories throughout the day—can help adults with obesity lose weight and lower their risk of colorectal cancer.
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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.