Could a Time-restricted Diet Compete With a Calorie-restricted 6-meal Diet?

Our study was conducted with participants, aged between 18-65 and with a BMI >25 kg/m2, who consulted a family medicine clinic in Istanbul, accepted the terms and conditions of the study and signed the volunteer consent form. Sample analysis was performed by T.M. with G Power 3.1.9.7 (Franz Faul, Germany), using data from Sundfør et al.'s study, "Effect of intermittent versus continuous energy restriction on weight loss, maintenance and cardiometabolic risk: a randomized 1-year trial". The effect size was assumed to be d: 0.382 for the purposes of calculation. After the calculation made with the aforementioned effect size, with 80% power and 10% margin of error, it was concluded that a cohort of at least 126 samples, of which 63 would be in the patient group and 63 would be in the control group, should be used in this study.

People with a history of bariatric surgery, eating disorders, alcohol and drug addiction, anti-obesity medication use, diagnosed with diabetes and hypothyroidism, active cancer patients and people carrying infectious diseases were excluded from the study. At the beginning of the study, 88 people were included in the 16:8 time-restricted intermittent fasting (time-restricted eating) group, with an eating plan of 400 kcal lower than the total daily energy requirement and with similar macronutrient content (50% carbohydrates, 25% fat and 25% protein); and 86 people were included in the energy-restricted six-meal group. Diet lists suitable for each group were prepared, and food substitution lists were handed out to the participants. Control measurements were performed after the 4th week. In order to keep the participants' motivation high throughout the study, an online chat group with the participation of a physician and dietitian, was set up. The study was concluded with 137 patients, because 37 people had left the study by the end of 8 weeks. Total daily energy expenditures were calculated using the Harris-Benedict formula. Participants in the time-restricted eating group were allowed to drink calorie-free soda, unsweetened tea, herbal tea and coffee during their 16-hour fast.

Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, as well as fasting blood glucose, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), lipid panel and HbA1c values in blood samples were checked at the start and the end of the study. Body composition was measured with the bioelectric impedance method with a Tanita Compacto CS 601. The bioelectrical impedance method is prone to error because of fluctuations in body water content. However, it is accepted as a valid method for assessing changes in weight loss studies when duly accompanied by X-ray absorptiometry and reference methods suitable for evaluating multi-compartment body composition under standard conditions [14]. Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), which is recently being recommended, correlate better than BMI in assessing the obesity-related health burden , including total mortality rate, type 2 diabetes, and CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk. The CBC (complete blood count) tests were performed with a Mindrat BC-6800 device, using the SF Cube technology; biochemical tests were performed with a Roche Cobas C702 device that works with photometry; and HbA1c tests were performed with an Arkray HA-8180V device that performs measurements based on the HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) technique.

All statistical analyses were performed with the help of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) v. 25.0. The conformity of variables to the normal distribution pattern were checked with histogram graphics and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Average, standard deviation, median, IQR (Inter Quantile Range), min.-max. values were used while presenting defining analyses. Categorical variables were compared with Pearson Chi Square Test. Mann Whitney U Test was used in examining the nonparametric variants between groups. The Wilcoxon Test was used for assessing the change in the monitored values within a group, and Repeated Measures Analysis was used for the same purpose when the comparison was being made between the groups. Cases where the P value was under 0.05 were taken as statistically significant results.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18-65
• BMI >25 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• People with a history of bariatric surgery
• Eating disorders
• Alcohol and drug addiction
• Anti-obesity medication use
• Diagnosed with diabetes and hypothyroidism
• Active cancer patients
• People carrying infectious diseases