Time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise might work together to improve metabolic health: Study

After 12 weeks, all three groups had significant weight loss and decreases in waist and hip circumference. Likewise, all groups showed favorable changes in lipid and glucose levels.

Some differences were seen between groups. For example, fat-free mass (a combination of lean mass and skeletal muscle mass) and blood pressure improved in the diet + exercise and exercise groups but did not change in the diet-only group.

Participants in the diet + exercise group generally experienced more profound changes in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters than either diet or exercise alone.

The researchers noted that this is a relatively small study, and it is difficult to tease out the contributions of specific exercise routines or of time-restricted eating and calorie reduction since both groups reduced their calorie intake. However, they note that combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training might show promise in improving body composition and cardiometabolic health.

The authors add: “Combining time-restricted eating with High Intensity Functional Training is a promising strategy to improve body composition and cardiometabolic health.”

Reference:

Ranya Ameur ,Rami Maaloul ,Sémah Tagougui,Fadoua Neffati,Faten Hadj Kacem,Mohamed Fadhel Najjar,Achraf Ammar,Omar Hammouda, Unlocking the power of synergy: High-intensity functional training and early time-restricted eating for transformative changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in inactive women with obesity, PLoS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301369.