Spanish Study Finds 8-Hour Time-Restricted Eating Drives Sustained Weight Loss

Recent research highlights time-restricted eating (TRE), a form of intermittent fasting where food intake is limited to an 8-hour window, as an effective and sustainable weight loss strategy for overweight and obese adults. Studies show that following TRE for three months results in significant weight loss that can be maintained for at least a year, regardless of whether the eating window is early or late in the day. TRE’s simplicity, which removes the need for calorie counting, may promote better adherence and long-term cardiometabolic health benefits. Meanwhile, an alternative approach involving reducing carbohydrate intake, rather than total calories, has been found to deliver similar metabolic benefits to fasting by enhancing fat burning and metabolic flexibility. Both low-carb diets and intermittent fasting prompt the body to switch from carbohydrate to fat metabolism, potentially lowering risks for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These findings suggest that individuals seeking weight loss and metabolic improvements have flexible dietary options beyond traditional intermittent fasting.