Time-Restricted Eating Matches Calorie Restriction in Weight Loss with Better Adherence and Safety among women: Study

A recent study published in Frontiers in Nutrition investigated the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese women. The researchers found that TRE effectively reduced body weight and fasting insulin levels without compromising lean mass, demonstrating that this approach is comparable to traditional calorie restriction in terms of weight loss outcomes. Importantly, TRE also showed advantages in safety and adherence, suggesting that it may be a more practical and sustainable dietary strategy for long-term management of overweight and obesity, particularly in populations where strict calorie counting is challenging.

The study compared participants following a time-restricted eating schedule with those following conventional calorie restriction. Both approaches achieved similar reductions in body weight and improvements in metabolic parameters, but participants in the TRE group reported fewer difficulties with compliance. The authors highlighted that the simplicity of limiting eating windows rather than tracking daily caloric intake contributed to better adherence. Additionally, TRE did not adversely affect lean body mass, which is often a concern in calorie-restricted diets, making it a suitable intervention for preserving muscle while reducing fat. These findings indicate that TRE could serve as a feasible alternative to conventional dieting strategies in clinical and real-world settings, particularly for women balancing nutritional needs with lifestyle demands.

According to the researchers, the results underscore the potential of time-restricted eating as a safe, effective, and user-friendly method for managing weight and improving metabolic health. They also noted that further research involving diverse populations and longer study periods would strengthen the evidence base and help optimize protocols for TRE implementation. Overall, the study contributes to the growing literature supporting non-traditional dietary strategies and highlights TRE as a viable option for those seeking sustainable approaches to weight loss without compromising safety or lean mass.

Reference:

Frontiers in Nutrition. (2025). Time-restricted eating versus calorie restriction on weight loss and metabolic health in women. Frontiers Media SA. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1664412/full