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Dinner Timing and Metabolism Study

This study, called "Dinner Time for Obesity and Prediabetes," is looking at how the timing of your dinner affects your body's metabolism. Researchers want to understand if eating dinner earlier or later, in relation to your body's natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm), changes how your body processes fat. You could be eligible if you are between 18 and 50 years old. They are enrolling both healthy individuals with a normal weight (BMI 18-24.9) and individuals with obesity and prediabetes (BMI 30 or higher). The main goal is to measure your total fat oxidation over 24 hours, both at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks. Currently, the study is focusing on enrolling healthy, normal-weight participants.

Study design
This is a randomized, crossover study with 32 planned participants. It compares the effects of an early dinner versus a late dinner on metabolism.
What's involved
You will undergo circadian rhythm testing at Johns Hopkins Bayview, then participate in two 24-hour metabolic chamber stays at NIH, with a 3-4 week break between them.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your fat oxidation will be measured at baseline and again after 4 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05745441

Dinner Time for Obesity and Prediabetes

Recruiting
NAAges 18–50InterventionalBasic science
Johns Hopkins University
~32 participants
Updated 2026-04-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Early DinnerLate DinnerEarly Dinner tracerLate Dinner tracer

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
24-hour total fat oxidation
Measured over baseline, 4 weeks

Conditions

PreDiabetes
Obesity
Healthy

Explore related trials

HealthyObesityPrediabetesHemoglobin A1C Measurement

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Maryland2

Study leadership

  • Jonathan Jun, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University
  • Stephanie T Chung, MBBS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Who to contact

Athena Mavronis
[email protected]
(410) 550-4588
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

For the Normal-Weight Healthy (NWH) cohort: Healthy male and female adults, age 18-50, with BMI 18-24.9 kg/m2 inclusively
For the Obesity-Prediabetes (OPD) cohort: Male and female adults, age 18-50, with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and prediabetes
All participants must be able to understand study procedures, to comply with the procedures for the entire length of the study and be fully mobile.

Exclusion

Sleep disorder including insomnia, untreated moderate-severe sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or narcolepsy
Night shift work
Extreme delayed sleep phase defined as self-reported routine bedtime later than 1:00 AM or having mid-sleep on free days later than 5:00 AM on the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) or DLMO later than 24:00
Gastroesophageal reflux disease that affects ability to tolerate a dinner close to bedtime
Active smoking
Current drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
Diabetes (type 1 or 2) or on any diabetes medications besides metformin
Evidence of metabolic or cardiovascular disease, or disease that may influence metabolism (e.g. cancer, thyroid disease)
Hemoglobin A1c ≥5.7% for NWH cohort; Hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% for OPD cohort
Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL
Self-reported kidney disease
Any known history of an inherited metabolic disorder
Pregnant or lactating female (pregnancy test will be required prior to metabolic visits)
Peri-menopausal or post-menopausal female as determined by follicle stimulating hormone of \> 30 mIU/mL or fewer than 3 menstrual periods in 6 months
Professional or collegiate athlete
Participants who have travelled across time zones must have adequate time to recover from jet lag prior to enrollment (i.e., at least 3 days per time zone). Travel across \>1 time zone after enrollment in the study will not be permitted.
Weight less than 40 kg or more than 180 kg
Gastrointestinal disorders that can lead to obstruction of the digestive tract (i.e. diverticular disease, history of bowel obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease, motility disorder)
History of any surgical procedures in the gastrointestinal tract.
Swallowing disorders
Taking any prescription medication or other drug that may influence metabolism (e.g. diet/weight-loss medication, asthma medication, blood pressure medication, psychiatric medications, corticosteroids, or other medications at the discretion of the PI and/or study team)
Chronic use of sedative hypnotics, anxiolytics, opiates
Use of medications that can affect circadian rhythm (beta blockers, melatonin)
Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electro-medical devices
Those who have to undergo strong electromagnetic field during the period of use of the ingestible thermosensor (i.e. MRI)
Weight loss or gain of ≥ 5% of total body weight over the preceding 3 months
Currently participating in a weight loss program
Prior bariatric surgery
Volunteers with strict dietary concerns (e.g. vegetarian or kosher diet, food allergies)
History of significant intravenous access issues
Non-English speaking individuals: The complexity of the instructions for various components of the study would make the study procedures difficult to follow in the setting of a language barrier.
Other conditions or situations at the discretion of the PI

What this trial measures

  • 24-hour total fat oxidationbaseline, 4 weeks

    Within-subject difference in total fat oxidation between early dinner and late dinner conditions.