Missing puzzle pieces of time-restricted-eating (TRE) as a long-term weight-loss strategy in overweight and obese people? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The efficacy of using time restricted eating (TRE) for weight management and to mitigate metabolic disorders in overweight and obese people remains debatable. This meta-analysis quantified the impact of TRE on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese people. The pooled results were subjected to a random-effects modeling using Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman (HKSJ) method. Additionally, subgroup analysis was conducted based on study types, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) vs. non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs). Pooled results showed that subjects on TRE regimen (> 4 weeks) achieved a significant weight loss in comparison with unrestricted time regimen (weighted mean difference: −2.32%; 95% CI: −3.50, −1.14%; p Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1974335