Restricting meal times is a promising weight loss strategy, but does a reduction in overall food intake cause weight loss, or is it an effect of daily fasting periods?
A new study comparing time-restricted eating (TRE) to usual eating pattern (UEP) says the biggest difference is lower calories. The findings could inform future approaches to tackling the world's growing obesity problem.
The research team, led by Johns Hopkins University in the US, enrolled 41 adult participants with obesity and pre-diabetes or diet-controlled diabetes. The volunteers were then divided into their TRE or UEP groups, and each person was assigned an isocaloric (calorie-matched) meal.
It doesn't matter what group you belong to lolEight losses occurred. TRE group lost After consuming most of their calories before 1 p.m., the UEP group lost an average of 2.3 kilograms (5.1 pounds); after consuming most of their calories in the evening, the UEP group lost an average of 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds). I did.
“In the setting of an isocaloric diet, TRE did not reduce body weight or improve glucose homeostasis compared to UEP. This is because the effects of TRE on body weight in previous studies were due to reduced caloric intake. , the researchers wrote in their paper. .
Other markers such as blood sugar levels, waist circumference, blood pressure, and lipid levels were similar in both groups. Again, this suggests that meal times are not very important.
For the purpose of this study, the TRE group was only allowed to eat between 8am and 6pm, a 10-hour window (although some TRE diets shorten that to 4 hours) . By comparison, the UEP group was able to eat between 8 a.m. and midnight, giving them an additional six hours to digest the same prescribed calories.
“Our results indicate that the TRE operated in our study does not promote weight loss when dietary intake is matched between groups and calories are held constant,” the researchers wrote. are writing.
Although the study's sample size was relatively small and participants were only monitored for 12 weeks, the results support an effective method for losing excess weight. Additionally, adhering to a specific time frame may not directly contribute to weight loss in itself, but it will help you manage the most important factor here: reducing daily calories.
Many of us likely find it easier to monitor mealtimes than to count calories or plan specific meals, and for those with weight problems, medical professionals recommend may be recommended.
In an accompanying editorial, nutritionist Krista Varady and epidemiologist Vanessa Oddo from the University of Illinois at Chicago, who were not involved in the study, wrote that “TRE does not work simply because it helps people eat less. , studies have shown to be effective for weight loss.”
“Although TRE is not as effective as other dietary interventions when it comes to weight loss, it provides patients with a simplified approach to obesity treatment by omitting the need for calorie counting.”
This study Annual report of internal medicine.
