This research is being done to study how eating dinner at different times affects your health. The timing of meals may be important for weight control and heart health. Eating your meals later in the day is linked with risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease, but doctors do not understand why late eating might lead to these problems. We will test the effects of eating dinner at the “usual” time (around 6:00 PM) versus at a later time (around 10:00 PM). The total calories served will be the same – only the dinner timing is changed on two visits. We are looking for healthy young adult volunteers to participate.
To participate, you must:
- Be 18-30 years old
- Have a regular bedtime between 10 PM and 1:00 AM
- NOT have any sleep disorder (such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome)
- NOT be obese (BMI < 30)
- NOT have diabetes
- NOT take medications that can affect your sleep
- NOT smoke
- NOT be pregnant or breastfeeding
The study includes:
- Two visits to the laboratory, each requiring two consecutive overnight stays
- Questionnaires
- Meals and a snack at specific times
- Drinking a beverage with non-radioactive “tracer”
- Sleep studies (measures your movements, breathing, and brainwaves overnight)
- IV placement and blood samples
- A DEXA bone scan (to measure your body composition)
- Pregnancy test for female participants
