DiAL Health pilot: design of four diet arms and a control in young adults
This paper describes the methods of a 24-week randomized pilot trial in young, healthy adults comparing traditional and adaptive calorie restriction and time-restricted eating against a usual diet, with biomarkers of biological aging and health span as outcomes. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
DiAL Health is a 24-week randomized controlled pilot trial with five arms, including a usual-diet control, in healthy adults aged 25-49 years with a body mass index of 22.0-29.9 kg/m². [1]
The two calorie restriction arms target 25% calorie restriction, while the two time-restricted eating arms promote eating as much as desired within an 8-hour daily window. [1]
The paper describes implementation and data collection methods and states that findings will inform a future 5-year clinical trial; it does not report trial results. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract describing the rationale and design of a randomized controlled pilot trial
- Population / context
- Young, healthy adults aged 25-49 years with a body mass index of 22.0-29.9 kg/m².
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 25, 2026
Five diet arms in adults aged 25-49
DiAL Health is a 24-week randomized controlled pilot trial with five arms: two traditional and adaptive calorie restriction arms, two traditional and adaptive time-restricted eating arms, and a usual-diet control. Participants are young, healthy adults aged 25-49 years with a body mass index of 22.0-29.9 kg/m². The authors state that, to their knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine both calorie restriction and time-restricted eating against a usual diet.
Supporting source [1]
Targets and adherence monitoring by arm
The two calorie restriction arms target 25% calorie restriction. The two time-restricted eating arms promote eating as much as desired within an 8-hour daily window. Traditional arms receive established interventions; adaptive arms receive Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions using mobile health technology with real-time or near-real-time feedback. In the adaptive calorie restriction arm, adherence is monitored with weight-loss nomograms from a validated mathematical model and internet-connected smart scales. In the adaptive time-restricted eating arm, meal timing adherence is monitored with feedograms built from continuous glucose monitoring, a food photography app and manual entry.
Supporting source [1]
Pilot aims to inform a later 5-year trial
The trial compares feasibility and preliminary efficacy on biomarkers of biological aging and health span. The authors say the results will generate preliminary data for a larger, longer-term comparative trial and will inform the design of a future 5-year clinical trial of personalized dietary strategies. The paper describes implementation and data collection methods; it does not report trial results. The trial was registered as NCT05549362.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The paper describes the design and methods of a pilot trial and reports no results. Feasibility and preliminary efficacy are stated aims, not findings. The planned 5-year trial is future work.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Kennedy SF, Cabre HE, Diktas HE, Falkenhain K, Spring KE, Peterson CM, Dutton GR, Drews KL, Broyles ST, Dubin R, Rogers LQ, Champagne CM, Villareal DT, Hsia DS, Jacobs PG, Rejeski J, Fanning J, Redman LM, Martin CK. · europepmc.org · July 25, 2026