Studies have shown that eating on time leads to more weight loss than counting calories.
Losing weight is a common goal for people with type 2 diabetes, as type 2 diabetes is strongly correlated with overweight and obesity. However, it is not clear what diet strategy is best for people with this metabolic disorder.
In a recent randomized controlled study of people with type 2 diabetes, study participants who restricted their meals from noon to 8 p.m. showed weight loss. Interestingly, both methods showed similar improvements in blood glucose levels.
“Many people find it very difficult to keep track of calories long-term, but our research suggests that watching the clock can be an easy way to cut calories and lose weight. It shows that,” said Vicky Pavlou, Ph.D. student at the University of America, RDN. The University of Illinois at Chicago, which conducted new research. “Restricted eating times are becoming increasingly popular, but no other study has looked at the eight-hour meal time in people with type 2 diabetes.”
Pavlou presented the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Academy of Nutrition.
Previous research and new discoveries
Timed eating within eight hours has previously been studied in individuals battling obesity. Nevertheless, the new research initiative, led by Krista Varady, professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, aims to determine the potential benefits of this strategy for people with type 2 diabetes.
The study included a group of 75 people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages 18 to 80, all diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Participants were assigned to one of her three groups: time-restricted diet, calorie restriction, or control. People in the restricted eating group ate only between noon and 8:00 p.m., while those in the calorie restricted group were able to eat at any time of the day but reduced their calorie intake by 25. With a goal of 100% reduction, I calculated my calories with the MyFitnessPal mobile app. maintenance calories – calories needed to maintain your current weight. The control group continued their normal diet.
After a six-month study, the researchers found that participants who observed the restricted eating diet lost 3.55% of their weight compared to controls. This equates to someone weighing 275 pounds and he loses just under 10 pounds. The calorie restricted group did not lose weight compared to the control group. Blood glucose (HbA1C) levels decreased in both the time-restricted group (-0.91%) and the calorie-restricted group (-0.95%) compared to the control group.
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Precautions
The researchers also evaluated whether these dietary strategies improved cardiometabolic risk factors, but the weight loss achieved with the time-restricted diet was less than the 5% normally required for improvement of these factors. did not meet the standards of Study participants were also taking cholesterol and blood pressure medications, making it difficult to observe improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors.
“Our study shows that timed eating can be a good alternative for people with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight and improve their blood sugar levels,” Pavlou said. “However, there are multiple types of medications for people with type 2 diabetes, some of which can cause hypoglycemia and others that need to be taken with meals. It is important to work closely with a nutritionist or physician when implementing the method.”