Time-restricted eating vs daily calorie restriction for obesity and colorectal cancer risk
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-11396486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether eating within a fixed daily window (time-restricted eating) leads to better weight loss and lower colorectal cancer risk markers compared with traditional daily calorie restriction in adults with obesity.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $785,807 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA257807-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with obesity who are able to follow a time-restricted eating or calorie-restricted diet.
✕Less likely to help
If you have conditions that make fasting unsafe or you cannot adhere to a daily eating window, this study may not be suitable for you.
What this research studies
If you are an adult with obesity, this study will compare two eating patterns to see which helps reduce body weight and cancer risk markers. Participants will follow a time-restricted eating plan or a standard calorie-restricted diet for up to several months, with regular check-ins and measurements. The researchers will monitor weight, blood pressure, inflammation, and markers related to colorectal cancer risk to understand which approach is safer and more effective. The goal is to find a practical, sustainable eating pattern that could lower cancer risk for people with obesity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform dietary guidelines that help people with obesity lose weight and potentially reduce colorectal cancer risk.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot studies showed time-restricted eating is safe and associated with modest weight loss and improved risk markers.
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
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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.