Time-restricted eating and circadian rhythms: A new frontier in diabetes and obesity management.

Abstract

A new feeding strategy called time-restricted eating (TRE) is being developed with the goal to remedy obesity and type 2 diabetes by aligning food consumption with the body's endogenous circadian rhythms. These rhythms regulate metabolic function on a daily 24-hour basis by exerting a significant impact on energy balance, lipid metabolism, and glucose homeostasis. These databases were searched in an exhaustive manner: Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Saudi Digital Library, and the Cochrane Library; the search was widened until January 2025. Essential search terms were: dieting on time constraint, metabolic health, the circadian rhythm, obesity, and diabetes. To optimize metabolic health, TRE takes advantage of circadian rhythms by restricting daily calorie consumption to a specified time window. TRE has been shown in clinical trials to enhance weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism. Clinical evidence indicates that TRE can alter the disease trajectory of obese patients as well as patients with type 2 diabetes. The psychological and behavioral determinants of compliance with this intervention are also addressed in this review. For the control of metabolic disease, TRE holds promise. For more insight into the therapeutic benefit of TRE, future studies should investigate its possible combination with individualized nutritional regimens and its long-term impact on metabolic and psychological health.