Study of Time-restricted Eating on Weight Loss.

This is a randomized controlled trial studying the effects of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on weight loss in obese humans. Obesity is the number one risk factor for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and numerous studies demonstrate that weight loss is an effective strategy to prevent T2DM and improve the metabolic health of people diagnosed with T2DM. Unfortunately, classical calorie restriction diets often fail to produce long-term weight loss due to low compliance, reduced resting metabolic rate (RMR), and other factors. Therefore, novel dieting techniques must be explored in order to successfully treat obesity and prevent T2DM. Studies in mice provide compelling evidence that feeding/fasting cycles can be altered to produce beneficial effects on weight loss and metabolic health markers in the absence of calorie restriction. Limited research in human subjects suggests that this feeding paradigm may translate to human health as well, however, more research needs to be done in order to confirm this hypothesis. This study will determine if TRE can lead to weight loss in obese human subjects. Secondary outcomes include changes in body composition, HOMA-IR, hormonal and biochemical serum markers, RMR, and total energy expenditure (TEE).