The impact of a self-selected time restricted eating intervention on eating patterns, sleep, and late-night eating in individuals with obesity.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Secondary analysis of an individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 36337640 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1007824
What was done
Secondary analysis of a 12-week randomized trial in 20 adults aged 18–65 with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Participants were randomized to either an 8-hour self-selected time-restricted eating (TRE) window (n = 11) or a control group maintaining typical eating habits (n = 9). Food and beverage intake was tracked using a mobile application. Outcomes measured at pre- and end-intervention included meal timing, 2-week actigraphy sleep parameters, anthropometrics, HbA1c, and oral glucose tolerance testing.
What was found
At baseline, late-night eating was positively correlated with fasting glucose (r = 0.59, p = 0.006) and HbA1c (r = 0.46, p = 0.016). Compared with controls, the TRE group delayed their first eating occasion by 2.72 ± 1.48 hours relative to wake time (p < 0.001) and advanced their last eating occasion by 1.25 ± 0.8 hours relative to bedtime (p < 0.001). TRE reduced late-night eating prevalence by 14 ± 6% (p = 0.028), with 63% completely eliminating eating within 2 hours of bedtime. Overall sleep measures did not change between groups, but greater restriction of the eating window was associated with longer sleep duration at end-intervention (β = -0.46 [95% CI -9.2, -0.4], p = 0.03).
Why it matters
This study shows that a self-selected TRE window successfully alters meal timing and curbs pre-bedtime food consumption without negatively disrupting sleep.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 20 completed). Dietary logging was self-reported through an app, and the abstract does not report whether the intervention produced between-group improvements in glycemic or weight outcomes.
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