Comparison of Time-Restricted Eating and a Six-Meal Diet: Effects on Body Composition and Biochemical Parameters

Abstract

BackgroundObesity and obesity-related diseases is increasing worldwide. The widely acceptedapproach in the dietary treatment of obesity is the calorie-restricted six meal diet; however,alternative approaches are needed. This study aimed to compare time-restricted eating (TRE),a method that can be easily conveyed and applied in over-coming obesity, to six meals diet.MethodsA total of 174 participants aged 18-65, BMI>25 kg/m 2 were included, with 88participants in the time-restricted eating group and 86 participants in the six-meal group. Dietlists with similar calorie, macro counts suitable for their respective groups were prepared.Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood tests were analyzed before the studyand at the end of the 8-week.ResultsMore weight loss [MD: 1.17 kg, (95% CI: 0.23-2.06), Cohen’s d=0.42], higherdecrease in BMI [MD: 0.41 kg/m 2 (95% CI: -0.77 to -0.06), Cohen’s d=0.39] , decrease inwaist-to-hip ratio [MD: 0.008 (95% CI: -0.016-0.000), Cohen’s d=0.35], decrease in obesitydegree [MD: 2.35 (95% CI: -3.99 to -0.70), Cohen’s d=0.50] were observed in the time-restricted eating group (p<0.05). In the six meals group, decrease in LDL values was highercompared to the time-restricted eating group [p<0.05, MD:0.23 mmol/L (95% Cl:0.41-15.79),Cohen’s d=0.36]. More participants preferred to continue TRE (p<0.001).ConclusionsTRE resulted in greater weight loss, body fat reduction, and improved metabolicparameters, proving more effective for weight management. The six-meal diet was superiorfor LDL reduction. Both approaches yielded positive outcomes, with TRE emerging as analternative weight loss strategy.Keywords: Obesity, Nutrition Therapy, Time-Restricted Eating, Weight Loss, IntermittentFasting