Effect of Meal Timing and Dietary Changes on Metabolic and Behavioral Factors Involved in the Food Insecurity-Obesity Paradox
This study aims to explore how food insecurity, a lack of consistent access to enough food, may lead to changes in the body that make it harder to lose weight. The investigators are testing whether providing women experiencing food insecurity with a stable, healthy, and personalized meal plan can improve their metabolism and reduce their motivation to eat unhealthy foods. The hypothesis is that addressing food insecurity with a predictable diet can lower a person's respiratory quotient (a measure of how the body uses energy), promote fat burning, and improve overall health. This research will improve the understanding for how food insecurity contributes to obesity and may lead to better solutions for managing weight in individuals facing these challenges.
• Woman between the ages of 18-45.
• Premenopausal.
• Obese (BMI ≥ 30).
• Diagnosed with prediabetes (HbA1c: 5.7%-6.4%).
• Experiencing food insecurity (score of 2-6 on the six-item food insecurity questionnaire).
• Income below 300% of the household federal poverty threshold.
• Lives alone.