Research Center: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Location: Webb Building, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233
Lead Researcher: Courtney M. Peterson, Ph.D.
IRB: This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Institutional Review Board

Everyone ages, but what if you could slow down the process? A new UAB research study is exploring whether intermittent fasting or calorie restriction can slow the aging process, make you biologically younger, reduce body fat, increase stem cells, and more!

UAB researchers are looking for healthy adults aged 25-50, who are either normal weight or slightly overweight to participate. Participants in the study will have access to a trained diet coach, learn more about their biological age, and may potentially improve their body fat, blood sugar, cardiovascular health, metabolism, overall well-being and more. If you’re interested in participating in this research, sign up for this study today!

• Participants will be compensated up to $2500 for participating in this study. 
• Participants may slow the aging process.
• Participants may become leaner.
• Participants may become healthier.
• Participants will have their biological age, muscle mass, body fat, metabolism (including how fast or slow metabolism is), blood sugar levels, stem cells, aging biomarkers, and overall health measured.
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

• Men and women aged between 25 and 50 who are generally healthy
• Must have a BMI between 22 – 30 kg/m^2 (either normal weight or a bit overweight)
• Must not be a regular (daily) user of medications for chronic medical conditions (Birth control and certain and certain psychiatric/mood medications are okay)
• Must regularly wake up between 5-8 AM
• Must not have a history of prior bariatric surgery, active gallstone disease, extensive bowel resection, or any disease or condition that seriously affects body weight and/or body composition or medications or supplements that affect body weight or would interfere with the interpretation of the results
• Must not have any of the following medical conditions: 
  • Sleep disorders
  • Anemia
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer)
  • Severe depression
  • Eating disorder (within the past 5 years)
  • Any other major disease or medical condition
• Must not follow any non-conventional eating patterns (such as vegan, paleo, fasting, etc.), or have an eating duration less than 11 hours per day
• Must not have a history of drug or alcohol abuse (up to 14 drinks a week are allowed) within the past 2 years
• Must not have smoked, vaped, or used tobacco products within the past 6 months
• Must not currently be participating in or have recently participated (4 consecutive weeks in the past 3 months)in heavy aerobic activity (e.g. jogging, running, or riding fast on a bicycle) for ≥ 240 minutes per week or heavy resistance training ≥ 3 times per week that results in heavy breathing and sweating
• Must not perform overnight shift work > 1 day/week or plan to cross more than 2 time zones within 1 month of the 3 main testing visits
• Must be able to attend 9 study visits over approximately 7 months

The study team will explain the research in its entirety but some details are:

• Participation in this study will require attending two qualifying screening visits, followed by seven testing visits (including one focus group).
• Participants will randomly be assigned to one of five groups: one is a usual diet, two are calorie-restrictive diets (CR) designed to promote weight loss, and two are intermittent fasting diets (IF). 
• Participants  will have counseling visits with a health coach, who is also a registered dietitian. The total number of these sessions depends on which group you are in.
• Participants will undergo tests to measure biological age and overall health. These include blood draws to measure blood sugar, cholesterol levels, stem cells, and other aspects of health; blood pressure; weight; DXA scans to measure muscle mass, body fat, and bone density; urine collections to measure metabolic rate; and wearing an activity monitor to measure sleep and exercise.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1969 in the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state’s largest single employer, with more than 24,000 faculty and staff and over 53,000 jobs at the university and in the health system. 

Please note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers would like to assure the participants that ensuring their and the study staff’s safety is of utmost importance.