Time-Restricted Eating in Survivors Trial (TEST)
Overview
TEST will enroll women aged 60+ with a history of stage I–III breast cancer, who completed chemotherapy 1–15 years ago. We’ll compare a healthy eating education program to an intermittent-fasting approach called Time-Restricted Eating (TRE) over 16 weeks. This federally funded study is led by Dr. Amy Kirkham at the University of Toronto.

Study Goals
TRE limits eating to a daily window (e.g., 11 am–7 pm) and only water/black coffee/tea outside those hours. Despite its popularity, evidence on TRE’s health benefits is inconclusive. We will compare TRE versus healthy eating on risk factors for cardiovascular, cognitive, and physical health in breast cancer survivors, to inform clinical recommendations.
Eligibility
- Female, age 60+
- Stage I–III breast cancer diagnosis
- Completed chemotherapy 1–15 years ago
- No specific diet in past 3 months
- Own a Bluetooth-enabled mobile device with texting
🔗 Additional screening questions in the survey link below.
What’s Involved?
- Random assignment to be randomly assigned (like with the flip of a die) to one of two groups for 16 weeks: 1) healthy eating education or 2) time restricted eating and increasing protein intake
- Three on-campus assessments at baseline (shortly after joining the study), after 16 weeks, and after ~40-42 weeks
- In person assessments at the University of Toronto downtown campus.
- First two visits: ~4.5 hrs each; final visit: ~2 hrs (can split)
- The longer assessment can be broken up into 2 days if you prefer.
- Compensation up to $80 CAD for time & travel
- Bring a friend or family member if you like
Next Steps
Ready to learn more? Complete a brief online survey to check eligibility. If you qualify, you’ll provide your name, phone, and email, and a team member will follow up to discuss details and answer questions.