Time-Restricted Eating in Survivors Trial (TEST)
Overview
TEST will enroll women with a history of stage I, II, III breast cancer who are 60+ years old and have completed chemotherapy treatment 1 to 15 years earlier to compare the effects of healthy eating to a type of intermittent fasting called ‘time-restricted eating’ over 16 weeks. This study is being federally funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The study is being conducted by University of Toronto Professor Dr. Amy Kirkham, who studies the use of lifestyle therapies including diet to improve women's health in general, but with a specific focus on breast cancer survivors.
Study Goals
Following healthy eating patterns can affect health in many positive ways. A new diet approach, a type of intermittent fasting called ‘Time-Restricted Eating’, has recently become popular in the media and the general public. TRE involves eating only during specific hours of the day (e.g., eating for 8 hours, such as from 11 am to 7 pm) and then only drinking water/black coffee/tea outside those hours for the rest of the day. However, the available research on the effects of TRE on health has not produced strong enough evidence to know if and how well it works. Some people consider it a ‘fad’ diet. This study will compare the effects of ‘Time-Restricted Eating’ to the effects of healthy eating on risk factors for heart, brain, and physical health problems. The study will help to determine if this eating pattern is something that doctors should recommend to women who have survived breast cancer.
Are you Eligible to Participate?
- Female
- Age 60+ years old
- Previously diagnosed with stage I, II or III breast cancer
- Previously received chemotherapy treatment and finished 1–15 years earlier
- Have not followed a specific diet in the past 3 months
- Must have a mobile device that has Bluetooth and texting capabilities
- Other questions included in the link below
What Does the Study Involve?
If you agree to participate, you would be randomly assigned (like with the flip of a die) to one of two groups for 16 weeks:
- healthy eating education or
- time restricted eating and increasing protein intake.
Regardless of group assignment, you will be asked to complete three assessments:
- at baseline (shortly after joining the study)
- after 16 weeks
- after ~40-42 weeks.
The assessments will take place at the University of Toronto downtown campus. The first two assessments will take ~4.5 hours to complete and the final assessment will take ~2 hours to complete. The longer assessment can be broken up into 2 days if you prefer. You are welcome to bring a trusted family member or friend to attend the visits with you. We understand this may be a challenging time commitment for many women, so we are pleased to be able to offer up to $120 compensation for your time and transportation to complete the assessments at the university. We also try to make the visits as enjoyable, comfortable, and convenient as possible. Please just ask if there is anything we can do to make your participation possible.
Want to Learn More? Contact Us!
If this sounds interesting and you would like to learn more about participating, the first step will be to complete a survey to determine if you meet the initial eligibility criteria for the study. If your responses suggest that you may be eligible, you will be asked to provide your first name, phone number, and an email address at the end of the survey. A study team member will contact you to schedule a call. During the phone call, the rest of the details of the study will be explained to you so that you can decide if you want to participate. Access the survey link here: