An international team of researchers led by scientists from Johns Hopkins University (USA) has discovered a simple method for calorie restriction and, consequently, weight loss. The strategy involves reducing the time spent near food. In other words, it’s about closing the kitchen door on oneself.
The researchers believe that the less frequently we find ourselves in the kitchen, the longer our fasting periods will be throughout the day.
How the Study Was Conducted
During the study, the team compared the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) with a conventional eating pattern (UEP).
The scientists involved 41 adult participants with obesity and diabetes (or prediabetes), who closely monitored their diets. The volunteers were divided into two groups based on their eating patterns—TRE or UEP. Each participant was required to follow an isocaloric diet, which is a meal plan with controlled fat content that ensures a consistent daily caloric intake.
The TRE group was allowed to eat only at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, creating a 12-hour window between meals. In contrast, the UEP group could eat from 8 AM until midnight at any time, as reported by Science Alert. Regardless of which group the participants belonged to, all of them lost some weight due to the isocaloric diet. However, the results for the TRE group were more pronounced.
Interestingly, the timing of meals did not significantly affect the final outcomes. What mattered more were the intervals between eating, which led participants to consume fewer calories.
“It can be suggested that the impact of TRE on weight may be related to reduced calorie intake,” the researchers wrote in their report.
Although the sample size of the study was relatively small and the experiment lasted only 12 weeks, the results confirm the effectiveness of this weight loss method. Moreover, while adhering to specific time intervals alone may not directly contribute to weight loss, it helps manage excess daily calories.
The scientists believe that many of us might find it easier to monitor meal times rather than count calories. This is something that healthcare professionals could recommend to patients struggling with excess weight, the researchers noted.
According to the scientists, the findings could aid in developing strategies to combat obesity, which has become a critical issue worldwide.
The results of the study were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
In a related editorial, dietitian Krista Varady and epidemiologist Vanessa Oddo from the University of Illinois at Chicago, who were not involved in the study, stated that the TRE eating strategy is “effective for weight loss simply because it helps people eat less.”
“TRE offers patients a simplified approach to obesity treatment, eliminating the need to count calories,” the researchers wrote.