A Smartphone Intervention to Promote Time Restricted Eating Reduces Body Weight and Blood Pressure in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of time restricted eating (TRE) in adults with overweight and obesity. Participants (n = 50) logged all eating occasions (>0 kcal) for a 2-week run-in period using a smartphone application. Participants with eating duration ≥14 h enrolled in an open label, non-randomized, prospective 90-day TRE intervention, with a self-selected reduced eating window of 10 h. No dietary counseling was provided. Changes in anthropometrics, eating patterns and adherence after TRE were analyzed using t-tests or Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test. The mean duration of the baseline eating window was 14 h 32 m ± 2 h 36 m (n = 50) with 56% of participants with duration ≥14 h. TRE participants (n = 16) successfully decreased their eating window from 16 h 04 m ± 1 h 24 m to 11 h 54 m ± 2 h 06 m (p < 0.001), and reduced the number of daily eating occasions by half (p < 0.001). Adherence to logging and to the reduced eating window was 64% ± 22% and 47% ± 19%, respectively. TRE resulted in decreases in body weight (-2.1 ± 3.0 kg, p = 0.017), waist circumference (-2.2 ± 4.6 cm, p = 0.002) and systolic blood pressure (-12 ± 11 mmHg, p = 0.002). This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of TRE administered via a smartphone, in adults with overweight and obesity.

Keywords: chrononutrition; circadian rhythms; intermittent fasting; meal timing; time restricted eating.

Figure 1

TREAT Pilot Study Consort Diagram.

Figure 2

Eating duration during 2-week run-in period (n = 50). Frequency distribution (grey bars) and cumulative percentage (black line and purple shaded area) of eating duration.

Figure 3

Individual 95% interval eating duration during baseline (grey bars) and during TRE (white bars) (n = 16).