Circadian Intervention to Improve Cardiometabolic Health

RecruitingHealthy volunteers welcome

Timing of Circadian Synchronizers: The TOCS Study

Who can join

Ages 18 to 45 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age: 18-45 years old; equal numbers of men and women
2. Body mass index (BMI): 25.0-34.9 kg/m2,
3. Sleep Habits: habitual self-reported average total sleep time (TST) \<6.5 hours per night for prior 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinically diagnosed sleep disorder or major psychiatric illness
2. Evidence of significant organ dysfunction or disease (e.g., diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease)
3. Use of prescription drugs or substances known to influence sleep or glucose metabolism
4. Shift-work: current or history of within last year
5. Weight change: \>10% of body weight over prior six months
6. Experiencing menopause or post-menopausal
7. Current enrollment in weight loss or physical activity program like the Diabetes Prevention Program
8. Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or currently lactating.
9. Currently smoking
10. Alcohol intake \>3 drinks per day or \>14 drinks per week

About the study

The overall goal is to examine the efficacy of a circadian intervention in people with overweight and obesity and habitual short sleep duration (HSSD). Participants will undergo a randomized controlled trial, with circadian intervention and control (healthy lifestyle) groups. The circadian intervention is designed to reduce nighttime light exposure and after-dinner snack food intake. Alternatively, the control group will receive basic health information (e.g., physical activity, goal setting, and nutrition when eating out).

What is being tested

Circadian Intervention (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Utah · Participants: 20 · Started: Jun 13, 2023

Contact the study team

Christopher M Depner, PhD · Phone: 801-581-2275

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05943626

Locations in the U.S.

Utah	College of Health Research Complex--University of Utah, Salt Lake City

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.