Study reveals effective dietary strategy

Metabolic syndrome now affects one in three American adults, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. But there is still hope. Researchers have found that time-restricted eating, a popular dietary strategy known for weight loss, can be a game-changer for people with metabolic syndrome.

Time-restricted eating, also called intermittent fasting, involves alternating periods of eating and fasting. Studies have shown that this way of eating can facilitate with weight loss, improve blood sugar control, and improve heart health, making it a popular choice for overall well-being.

Latest test published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggest that intermittent fasting may improve cardiometabolic health in people struggling with metabolic syndrome. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend this dietary pattern as a more practical and less pricey intervention to improve cardiometabolic health, even in people already taking medications.

“Metabolic syndrome, especially when combined with prediabetes, represents a critical tipping point at which the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease increases significantly. We hope that the results of this study can facilitate others looking to address their metabolic syndrome and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Pam Taub, co-author of the study published in: a press release.

Researchers studied 108 participants in the TIMET trial, which examined the benefits of a customized, time-restricted meal schedule in patients taking medications for metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to a trial group, which restricted the eating window to 10 hours a day, or a control group, which did not restrict eating but received standard treatment.

At the end of the three-month study, participants in the time-restricted eating group showed significant improvements in heart health, including blood sugar, cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c levels, comparable to results typically achieved with more intensive interventions such as those from the National Diabetes Prevention Program. They also observed reductions in body weight, BMI, and abdominal fat without loss of lean muscle mass.

How can time-restricted eating facilitate? It works by harnessing the body’s natural wisdom and harnessing its daily circadian rhythms to restore metabolism and improve health, explained Satchidananda Panda, co-author of the study.

“Unlike pricey medications like Ozempic, which require lifelong utilize, time-restricted eating is a elementary lifestyle change that has no side effects and can be continued indefinitely. “Patients appreciate that they don’t have to change what they eat, just when they eat,” said first author Emily Manoogian.