Trial results for a study investigating the impact of eating timing on Obesity were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-11-21. The study observed mean body mass reductions of -2.1067 kg in the daytime eating condition and -2.1887 kg in the delayed eating condition.
Background
Obesity is a complex condition influenced by various factors, including dietary intake and lifestyle. Understanding how the timing of food consumption affects metabolic parameters, weight, and body composition is an area of ongoing research. This study aimed to explore the effects of different eating windows on individuals with obesity, providing insights into potential strategies for weight management and metabolic health.
Trial design
This randomized, cross-over design study enrolled 38 participants with Obesity. The trial investigated how the timing of eating affects weight, adiposity, energy metabolism, and gene expression. Participants were provided with isocaloric meals and snacks to be consumed under one of two prescribed eating conditions: daytime eating or delayed eating. The study was completed and did not specify a phase.
Key results
The study reported on several key measurements:
- Body Mass (Weight):
- In the Daytime Eating Condition, the mean change was -2.1067 kg (Standard Deviation 3.8373 kg).
- In the Delayed Eating Condition, the mean change was -2.1887 kg (Standard Deviation 2.7237 kg).
- Adiposity - Total Body Fat:
- In the Daytime Eating Condition, the mean change was -0.3300 percentage of total body mass (Standard Deviation 1.8217 percentage of total body mass).
- In the Delayed Eating Condition, the mean change was -0.4833 percentage of total body mass (Standard Deviation 1.2862 percentage of total body mass).
- Energy Homeostasis Outcomes - REE (Resting Energy Expenditure):
- In the Daytime Eating Condition, the mean change was -32.4723 kcals per day (Standard Deviation 260.8070 kcals per day).
- In the Delayed Eating Condition, the mean change was 47.0390 kcals per day (Standard Deviation 240.9396 kcals per day).
- Energy Homeostasis - Respiratory Quotient:
- In the Daytime Eating Condition, the mean change was -0.203 ratio of CO2 produced/O2 consumed (Standard Deviation 0.0607 ratio of CO2 produced/O2 consumed).
- In the Delayed Eating Condition, the mean change was -0.0197 ratio of CO2 produced/O2 consumed (Standard Deviation 0.6499 ratio of CO2 produced/O2 consumed).
What this means
The results indicate that both daytime and delayed eating conditions led to comparable reductions in body mass and total body fat among obese participants in this study. However, there were notable differences in resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory quotient, suggesting that eating timing may influence metabolic processes differently, even when overall weight loss is similar. Specifically, REE decreased in the daytime eating condition but increased in the delayed eating condition. These findings suggest that while the timing of meals might not drastically alter weight loss outcomes in the short term, it could have distinct effects on energy metabolism, which warrants further investigation for long-term health implications and personalized dietary recommendations.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03354169, titled "Daytime vs. Delayed Eating Among Obese Individuals", were posted on 2025-11-21 on clinicaltrials.gov.