A new study in the International Journal of Obesity examined the impact of combining time-restricted eating (TRE) with exercise on body composition among physically active adults. The findings revealed a modest decline in body fat mass (BF) and fat percentage.
Intermittent fasting (IF)—particularly TRE—involves alternating fasting periods of 12–20 hours with eating windows of 4–12 hours. Aligning TRE with the body’s circadian rhythms, which help regulate metabolic processes, may enhance metabolic performance. This meta-analysis reviewed 15 randomized trials encompassing 338 adults, with an average age of 28.7 years and intervention periods ranging from 4 to 8 weeks.
Results showed that combining TRE with exercise was associated with an average reduction of 1.3 kg in fat mass and a 1.3% drop in body fat percentage. Fat-free mass (FFM) remained unchanged, suggesting that muscle tissue was preserved. Researchers propose that the reduction in fat mass stems from heightened lipolysis and lipid oxidation, fueled by increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity under low-energy conditions.
Most studies had participants engage in aerobic, strength, or combined exercise during the designated eating window, ensuring sufficient energy availability for training. Nevertheless, considerable variation existed across the trials, possibly due to differences in intervention length, exercise types, and individual metabolic responses.
Though these findings are encouraging, the investigators caution against the broad application of the results. Study limitations included short intervention periods and reliance on self-reported dietary data. They underscore the need for long-term studies incorporating a wider range of populations, intervention durations, and TRE variations to understand its health implications better.
In conclusion, pairing TRE with exercise shows potential benefits for improving body composition. However, further research is essential to determine the most effective strategies and to evaluate long-term outcomes.
Important! The statistical information in medical articles reflects overall trends and does not account for individual differences. Everyone’s situation can vary. Always seek guidance from your healthcare provider to make decisions tailored to your health needs.
