A Remote Time-Restricted Eating and Mindfulness Intervention Addressing Risk Factors Associated with Early-Onset...

Area of Science:

• Metabolic health
• Psychosocial stress
• Colorectal cancer prevention

Background:

• Increased adiposity and chronic psychosocial stress (CPS) are linked to rising early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) rates.
• Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial for EOCRC prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of time-restricted eating (TRE) and mindfulness interventions in young adults.
• To assess the impact of TRE and mindfulness, individually and combined, on perceived stress, adiposity, and metabolic/inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week randomized controlled pilot trial involving 43 young adults.
• Participants were assigned to TRE, mindfulness, combined TRE & mindfulness, or a control group.
• Interventions included daily TRE (12-8pm eating window) and a mindfulness course via the Calm® app.

Main Results:

• The trial demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability, with low attrition rates (7%).
• Significant reductions in perceived stress (PSS) were observed in all intervention groups compared to the control.
• The combined TRE & mindfulness group showed superior improvements in visceral fat mass, fasting insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, and fecal calprotectin.

Conclusions:

• Combined TRE and mindfulness interventions are feasible, acceptable, and effective in improving perceived stress, visceral adiposity, and cardiometabolic/inflammatory markers in young adults.
• This combined approach shows potential as a strategy for mitigating risk factors associated with early-onset colorectal cancer.
• Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger, more diverse populations.