Early Time-Restricted Eating Combined With Exercise in Older Adults

July 9, 2026 updated by: Maha Gasmi, University of Manouba

Effects of Early Time-Restricted Eating Combined With a Multicomponent Exercise Program on Bone Mineral Density, Gait, Balance, and Fall Risk in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of Early Time-Restricted Eating (eTRE) combined with a multicomponent exercise program on bone health, physical function, and fall risk in healthy older adults.

A total of approximately 44 healthy adults aged 60 years and older will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group will follow an Early Time-Restricted Eating schedule combined with a structured multicomponent exercise program. The control group will not receive any dietary timing intervention or structured exercise program and will continue their usual daily lifestyle.

The intervention will last for 6 months. Participants in the exercise program will perform supervised sessions including resistance training, balance exercises, aerobic activity, and flexibility exercises. The Early Time-Restricted Eating protocol will involve consuming all daily food intake within an early daytime window while maintaining usual dietary quality and adequate energy and nutrient intake.

The main outcomes of the study include changes in bone mineral density, gait performance, balance, and fall risk. These outcomes will be measured at baseline and after the intervention period.

This study will provide evidence on whether combining early time-restricted eating with structured exercise can improve musculoskeletal health and functional ability, and reduce fall risk in older adults.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effects of Early Time-Restricted Eating (eTRE) combined with a multicomponent exercise program on bone mineral density, physical function, and fall risk in healthy older adults.

Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an experimental group or a control group. The intervention will last for 6 months. The experimental group will follow an Early Time-Restricted Eating protocol, consisting of an 8-hour daily eating window (e.g., 07:00-15:00) followed by a 16-hour fasting period, in combination with a supervised multicomponent exercise program performed three times per week.

Each exercise session will last approximately 60 minutes and will include resistance training, balance exercises, aerobic activities, and flexibility exercises. Exercise sessions will be scheduled within the eating window to optimize energy availability and recovery. Dietary intake will be monitored to ensure adequate energy and protein consumption.

The control group will maintain their usual lifestyle without any structured dietary timing or exercise intervention.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after the intervention period. Data will be analyzed using repeated measures analysis to evaluate the effects of time, group, and their interaction on study outcomes.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
44

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Tunisia
    • Manouba
      • Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
        • Manouba University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 60 years or older
  • Community-dwelling and generally healthy older adults
  • Sedentary or moderately physically active
  • Stable body weight during the previous 3 months (no intentional weight loss or gain >5%)
  • Able to participate in a supervised exercise program
  • Willing to comply with the time-restricted eating protocol and study procedures
  • Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of osteoporosis requiring pharmacological treatment
  • Severe sarcopenia or major mobility limitations preventing safe exercise participation
  • Cognitive impairment or diagnosed dementia affecting ability to follow instructions
  • Presence of uncontrolled chronic diseases affecting bone metabolism (e.g., advanced renal disease, uncontrolled endocrine disorders)
  • Current use of medications affecting bone metabolism (e.g., corticosteroids, anti-osteoporotic drugs)
  • Participation in another structured exercise or dietary intervention program within the past 3 months
  • Any medical condition that contraindicates moderate-intensity exercise
  • Inability to comply with study protocol or follow-up assessments

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Early Time-Restricted Eating (eTRE)+Exercise Intervention Group
Participants in the experimental group will follow a 16:8 Early Time-Restricted Eating protocol combined with a supervised multicomponent exercise program for 6 months. The exercise program includes resistance, aerobic, balance, and flexibility training, while the eating window is restricted to 8 hours per day with adequate energy and protein intake maintained.
Behavioral: Early Time-Restricted Eating (eTRE)+Exercise Intervention
Participants will follow an Early Time-Restricted Eating protocol consisting of a 16:8 fasting-feeding schedule. All daily caloric intake will be consumed within an 8-hour window (e.g., 07:00-15:00), followed by a 16-hour fasting period. Participants will be instructed to maintain adequate energy intake and consume at least 1.2 g/kg/day of protein, distributed across meals within the eating window. Water intake will be allowed ad libitum during fasting hours. A supervised multicomponent exercise program including resistance, aerobic, balance, and flexibility training. Sessions will be performed three times per week for 6 months. Resistance training will be performed at 60-80% of one-repetition maximum, aerobic training at moderate intensity (50-70% of maximum heart rate), and balance and flexibility exercises will be included in each session to improve functional capacity in older adults.
No Intervention: Control
Participants in the control group will not receive any structured exercise program or dietary timing intervention and will be instructed to maintain their habitual diet and physical activity throughout the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Bone mineral density (BMD) will be assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period. BMD measurements will be used to evaluate changes in bone health in response to the intervention in older adults.
Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gait performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Gait performance will be assessed using a standardized 4-meter gait speed test at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period. Participants will be instructed to walk at their usual pace, and gait speed will be used as an indicator of functional mobility and physical performance in older adults.
Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Balance
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Balance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale or a one-leg stance test at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period. These tests will evaluate static and dynamic balance ability in older adults and will be used to determine changes in postural stability following the intervention.
Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Fall Risk
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)
Fall risk will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period. The TUG test measures the time required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return, and sit down, and is used as an indicator of functional mobility and fall risk in older adults.
Baseline and 6 months (pre-intervention and post-intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Manouba

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Faculty of Medicine, Sousse

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ISSEP-2025-086

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share individual participant data. Only aggregate study results will be reported in publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings