A NEW meta-analysis has provided further insight into the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) combined with exercise on body composition.
The study reviewed 15 clinical trials involving 338 participants to assess how TRE influences fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) when paired with different types of exercise, including aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance training.
The results suggest that TRE, when coupled with exercise, leads to a small yet significant reduction in FM and body fat percentage (BF%). Specifically, the effect size was -0.20 (95% CI: -0.28− -0.13; P<0.001) for FM, and -0.23 (95% CI:-0.35− -0.11; P<0.001) for BF%. These findings indicate that TRE may be beneficial for reducing fat mass compared to unrestricted eating while maintaining overall body fat reduction.
However, the study found no significant effect on FFM (P=0.07), suggesting that the reduction in FM does not come at the expense of lean body mass. This is particularly important for clinicians who are concerned about muscle preservation during weight management interventions.
Further analyses showed that factors such as age, BMI, exercise type, study duration, and energy intake did not significantly affect the results, indicating that TRE’s impact on fat mass reduction is relatively consistent across different populations and exercise modalities.
Although these results are promising, the authors emphasise that more research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of TRE, particularly in relation to different exercise regimens and dietary patterns. Overall, the study supports the idea that combining TRE with exercise may be an effective strategy for reducing fat mass without compromising lean muscle, offering a potential intervention for individuals seeking to improve body composition.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Hays HM et al. Effects of time-restricted eating with exercise on body composition in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond). 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01704-2.
