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Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters in Women and Men With Overweight and Obesity: The TREAT Randomized Clinical Trial
12-week pragmatic RCT (n=116) using a mobile app: 16:8 time-restricted eating (12:00–20:00 ad libitum) vs consistent meal timing did not yield a significant between-group difference in weight change (−0.26 kg; 95% CI −1.30 to 0.78; P = 0.63), despite a small within-group loss in the TRE arm (−0.94 kg; P = 0.01).
Design
- Population: adults 18–64 y with BMI 27–43 (n = 116)
- Arms: 16:8 TRE (12:00–20:00, ad libitum intake allowed in window) vs consistent meal timing (CMT) (3 structured meals/day)
- Delivery: custom smartphone app + Bluetooth scales; predominantly remote participants with an in-person metabolic subcohort (n = 50)
Weight outcomes (abstract)
- Between-group difference (primary framing): −0.26 kg (95% CI −1.30 to 0.78; P = 0.63) — not significant
- Within-group TRE change: −0.94 kg (95% CI −1.68 to −0.20; P = 0.01)
- Within-group CMT change: −0.68 kg (95% CI −1.41 to 0.05; P = 0.07)
- In-person subcohort: authors report a significant within-TRE weight decrease and a between-group difference in appendicular lean mass index (−0.16 kg/m²; 95% CI −0.27 to −0.05; P = 0.005)
Evidence hygiene
- Ad libitum intake inside the eating window differs from prescribed energy deficit trials (Jamshed, Liu).
- Conclusion in abstract: TRE without other coaching components was not more effective than all-day eating for between-group weight loss at 12 weeks.
Publication
Lowe DA, Wu N, Rohdin-Bibby L, et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Nov 1;180(11):1491-1499. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4153. PMID 32986097. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03393195 / NCT03637855.
Outcomes
- Between-group weight change TRE vs consistent meal timing: −0.26 kg (95% CI −1.30 to 0.78; P = 0.63), not statistically significant.
- Within-group mean weight change in TRE arm −0.94 kg (95% CI −1.68 to −0.20; P = 0.01) versus −0.68 kg (95% CI −1.41 to 0.05; P = 0.07) in CMT arm.