The 16-Hour fast: does Time-Restricted eating beat calorie counting?

NCT ID NCT04692532

Completed Disease control Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This 12-month trial compares two weight-loss strategies in adults with obesity: eating only between 12 pm and 8 pm each day (an 8-hour time-restricted eating window) versus reducing daily calories by 25%. A control group follows no specific diet. The study measures changes in body weight, fat mass, and insulin resistance over 6 months of weight loss and 6 months of weight maintenance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: time-restricted eating (eating only between 12 pm and 8 pm) and calorie restriction (25% fewer calories daily)
What this could lead to: If effective, time-restricted eating could offer a simpler alternative to daily calorie counting for weight management.
What could go wrong: This is a single-center trial with 90 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Long-term adherence to an 8-hour eating window may be challenging.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Obesity obesity disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OBESITY

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

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