This is a summary of the published study:Time-restricted feeding study shows promise in helping people shed body fat
Researchers from the University of Alabama conducted a study to explore whether changing eating schedules can help people lose weight and burn fat. They investigated a strategy called early time-restricted feeding (eTRF) and found that it reduced hunger swings and altered patterns of fat and carbohydrate burning, potentially aiding in weight loss.
In eTRF, individuals consume their last meal in the mid-afternoon and fast until breakfast the next morning. This approach helps maintain more consistent appetite levels throughout the day compared to the typical eating pattern of eating from morning until evening.
The study involved 11 participants with excess weight who followed eTRF for four days (eating between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and another four days with a longer eating window (eating between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.). The researchers measured calories burned, fat burned, and appetite. Although eTRF did not affect total calories burned, it reduced hunger swings, increased nighttime fat burning, and improved the body’s ability to switch between burning carbohydrates and fats.
While these findings show promise, more extensive research involving a larger number of participants is necessary to determine if eTRF can lead to long-term weight loss and improvements in overall health.
