Time-Restricted Eating Without Calorie Counting Effective for Weight Loss

A 1-year US randomized controlled trial concluded that time-restricted eating (TRE) without calorie counting is effective in weight loss, on par with calorie restriction (CR). Ninety obese participants were randomly assigned to 8-hour TRE (eating between noon and 8:00 p.m. only, without calorie counting), CR (25% energy restriction daily), or control (eating over a period of 10 or more hours per day). Participants were not blinded. Seventy-seven persons completed the study (mean age 40 years, 33% Black, and 46% Hispanic). Mean reduction in energy intake was −425 kcal/d for TRE and −405 kcal/d for CR. Compared with the control group, weight loss by month 12 was −4.61 kg (−4.87%) for the TRE group and −5.42 kg (−5.30%) for the CR group, with no statistically significant difference between TRE and CR. The findings are consistent with other studies and suggest that TRE is an attractive approach to weight loss and omits complicated calorie tracking. Previous studies have shown that TRE combined with intentional energy restriction may produce similar body weight loss as daily CR over 2 to 12 months. Source: https://www.acpjournals.org/