Efficiency of time-restricted eating and energy restriction on anthropometrics and body composition in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

5 Repeated evidence

How much this weighs: several studies in people, combined — the strongest kind of evidence there is.

Type of study: meta-analysis or systematic review
Studied in: people
Participants: 1,242
Published: 2026 in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
Cited: 2 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 41034862 · doi 10.1186/s12966-025-01812-w

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

BACKGROUND: We examined the effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) alone and in combination with energy restriction (ER) on the body composition in adults. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched for articles that evaluated the effects of TRE or TRE + ER on body composition variables. Meta-analysis was performed to explore the overall effect of TRE on body composition. Subgroup analysis was performed to compare the changes in the TRE and TRE + ER trials with those in no restriction (NR) and ER trials. Intervention effects on body composition are expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 20 randomized controlled trials (1242 participants) were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that TRE significantly decreased body weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Subgroup analyses revealed that TRE alone (compared to NR) and TRE plus ER (compared to ER) considerably decreased body weight (TRE = WMD:-1.59 kg, 95%CI:-2.02 to -1.15 p < 0.00001; TRE + ER = WMD:-0.94 kg, 95%CI:-1.58 to -0.31, p = 0.004) and fat mass (TRE = WMD:-0.93 kg, 95%CI:-1.22 to -0.63, p < 0.00001; TRE + ER = WMD:-1.13 kg, 95%CI:-1.50 to -0.75, p < 0.00001) but not fat mass percentage. Both TRE and TRE + ER decreased fat-free mass (TRE = WMD:-0.58 kg, 95%CI:-0.81 to -0.36, p < 0.00001; TRE + ER = WMD:-0.56 kg, 95%CI:-0.81 to -0.31, p < 0.0001). TRE independently and combinedly decreased BMI (TRE = WMD:-0.63 kg/m2, 95%CI:-0.95 to -0.30, p = 0.0002; TRE + ER = WMD:-0.42 kg/m2, 95%CI:-0.78 to -0.07, p = 0.02) and WC (TRE = WMD:-2.11 cm, 95%CI:-3.35 to -0.86, p = 0.0009; TRE + ER = WMD:-2.20 cm, 95%CI: -2.64 to -1.75, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: TRE independently promotes weight loss in adults, and combining of TRE with ER has no additional beneficial effects on weight loss. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42022370215.