Applicability of time-restricted eating for the prevention of lifestyle-dependent diseases in a working population: results of a pilot study in a pre-post design

Background: The ongoing epidemic of lifestyle-dependent diseases in industrialized countries threatens to overtax the health and social systems of these nations. New approaches beyond the usual therapeutic and preventive measures which have been applied so far must be tested. A paradigm shift with regard to nutrition and associated illness is overdue. Time-restricted eating (TRE) offers a low-threshold and easy-to-implement lifestyle change which may have what it takes for broad, population-wide applicability and a widely diversified range of possible effects. In this pilot study, we examine the feasibility and adherence of TRE in healthy adult employees. Methods: Pre-post design study with healthy volunteers from the staff of Ulm University and Ulm University Hospital. Participants were asked to reduce their daily eating time to 8–9 hours for three months. Surrounding the eating time, they were allowed drinks other than water for 12 hours, and water for the rest of the day. Anthropometric measurements were taken by trained staff, and blood samples were taken at baseline and follow-up. Pre- and post-data on lifestyle, health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, recorded with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of the EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D)), and attitudes towards TRE were collected in questionnaires. During the course of the study, timing of the first and the last meal, as well as sleep duration and quality, were assessed in diaries. Primary outcome was the percentage of days with achievement of the fasting goal out of the total number of days recorded per participant. Results: Sixty-three participants (aged 47.8±10.5 years, 86% female) were recruited and started the intervention immediately after the baseline assessment. Two persons dropped out while all others finished the study. Ratings of compatibility of TRE with professional activities were good in 78% of participants, neither good nor difficult in 3%, and 18% reported to have encountered some difficulties. On average, the fasting target was reached on 72.2±18.9% of the recorded days. After three months of TRE, participants showed moderate reductions in weight (–1.3±2.3 kg, p≤0.001) and waist circumference (–1.7±3.2 cm, p≤0.001). HRQoL increased significantly by 5.8±12.4 (p=0.008) points between baseline and follow-up. Conclusion: TRE is feasible and well accepted, even in regularly employed persons, and may improve HRQoL. TRE may help to reduce obesity and abdominal obesity in adult working people, thereby preventing lifestyle-dependent diseases; however, volunteers need more guidance to increase effects.