Eating During Day Hours to Protect Shift Workers From Metabolic Disease

Plain-English translation of NCT04966351 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2025 · Translation generated September 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether time-restricted eating — eating all your meals within a 7-hour window during the daytime — can protect your metabolism when you're awake and active at night, like shift workers are. Researchers will compare two scenarios: eating normally while staying awake at night (mimicking shift work), and fasting at night while staying awake and only eating during daytime hours. The goal is to find a simple, practical way to prevent the weight gain and diabetes risk that shift workers face.

Shift workers are 44% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who work regular daytime hours. When your body's natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted, your metabolism gets confused, leading to weight gain and insulin problems. This study exists to find an easy, non-invasive lifestyle change that could protect shift workers from these serious health risks.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 35 years old
you have a normal body weight (BMI between 20.0 and 24.9)
you are generally inactive to moderately active
you normally sleep 7 to 9.25 hours per night
you have lived at Denver altitude or higher for at least 3 months before the study starts

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a medical, psychiatric, or sleep disorder
you are taking prescription medications, supplements, or illicit drugs (within the past month)
you have worked shift work in the past year or traveled across time zones in the past three weeks
you are a woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding, less than 1 year postpartum, or have a history of gynecological problems
you do not speak English

What participation looks like

You will spend time in a controlled research facility where everything is carefully monitored — your meals, sleep, activity, and light exposure. You'll experience two different scenarios in randomized order: in one, you'll eat meals during the night while staying awake (like a night shift), and in the other, you'll fast at night and eat only during daytime hours while also staying awake. Researchers will measure your metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and other markers to see which eating pattern protects your health better during circadian misalignment.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Sep 11, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado