Time-restricted feeding shows promising sleep results in pilot study

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a pilot study of adults with obesity, time-restricted feeding did not negatively affect sleep quality or duration, according to data presented at the ObesityWeek annual meeting.

Kelsey Gabel

In the study, Kelsey Gabel, RD, a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues enrolled 23 adults with obesity (mean age, 50 years; 20 women) for a 12-week time-restricted feeding regimen. Participants were asked to eat only between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day, with water consumption only allowed between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Body weight and sleep quality were evaluated at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the 12 weeks.

Two groups were created at 12 weeks based on total weight loss of less than 3% (n = 15) or more than 3% (n = 8).

After 12 weeks, the researchers did not find any major differences, either positive or negative, between baseline and 12-week sleep quality and duration, regardless of regimen adherence and total weight loss. Although the researchers noted several limitations of the study, including a lack of a randomized control design and a small sample size, they reported that there was no negative effect of time-restricted feeding on sleep in the study population. Therefore, the researchers suggest future research of this weight-loss intervention on sleep.

“We hypothesized that we would see sleep improve; however, we didn’t see this. Subjects at baseline were categorized as having ‘good’ sleep quality and duration at baseline, which may be why we didn’t see these affects,” Gabel told Endocrine Today. “Future research should use technology to inform objective sleep quality and duration rather than self-report.” – by Phil Neuffer

Reference:

Gabel K, et al. T-P-3564. Presented at: ObesityWeek; Nov. 11-15, 2018; Nashville, Tenn.

Disclosure: Gabel reports that this study was funded by a University of Illinois Chicago Campus Research Board Pilot Grant.