(OR05-05-26) The Weight-Loss–Independent Effects of Early Time-Restricted Eating on Multi-Organ Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Metabolically Complicated Overweight or Obesity

Saturday, July 25, 2026

10:48 AM - 11:00 AM ET

Location: Maryland Ballroom C

Presenting Author(s)

Maria Chondronikola, PhD RDN

Principal Investigator
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

SZ

Shengjie Zhu

University of California Davis, United States
ID

Ioanna Demetriou

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
GP

Grigorios Panagiotou

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
TC

Tessa Cacciotolo

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
AJ

Agnieszka Jakubowska

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
MK

Micheal Kostapanos

Cambridge University Hospitals, United Kingdom
SS

Stephen Sharp

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
BR

Baback Roshanravan

University of California Davis, United States
PS

Prasanth Surampudi

University of California, Davis, United Kingdom
JO

John O'Neil

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, United Kingdom
SF

Sadaf Farooqi

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Disclosure(s):

Maria Chondronikola, PhD RDN: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: Time-restricted eating (TRE) improves metabolic health and longevity in animal models, independent of energy intake, suggesting mealtime manipulation as a simple lifestyle strategy to mitigate cardiometabolic risk. However, the weight-loss-independent effects of TRE on cardiometabolic health in people remain unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of early TRE on multi-organ insulin sensitivity and quality of life (QoL) in people with overweight/obesity and prediabetes/insulin resistance.

Methods: Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of TRE (9-hour (0800-1700 h) eating window, n=14) or control (14-hour (0800-2200 h) eating window, n=15). A two-stage hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with infusion of [6,6-²H₂]-glucose and [1,1,2,3,3-²H₅]-glycerol was used to assess multi-organ insulin sensitivity. Self-reported QoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. An ANCOVA model was implemented to assess differences in outcomes. Data are expressed as means ± SD at baseline and post-intervention.

Results: TRE decreased the eating window (TRE: 13.6 ± 0.4 vs. 9.3 ± 0.4; Control: 13.5 ± 0.6 vs. 13.9 ± 0.5 h, p< 0.001), without changes in diet composition or body weight. Skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (measured as glucose rate of disappearance/ serum insulin) increased in TRE (TRE: 596 ± 369 vs. 652 ± 418; Control: 896 ± 560 vs. 798 ± 423 (nmol/kg FFM/min)/(μU/mL), p=0.042). Similarly, TRE tended to decrease adipose tissue insulin resistance (measured as glycerol rate of appearance/ serum insulin) in TRE (TRE: 152 ± 122 vs. 111 ± 90; Control: 150 ± 152 vs. 164 ± 127 (nmol/kg FFM/min)/(μU/mL)), p=0.06). TRE did not change liver insulin sensitivity (measured as glucose rate of appearance/ serum insulin). TRE also improved the QoL scores (TRE: 71 ± 17 vs. 78 ± 11; Control: 73 ± 14 vs. 73 ± 13, p=0.047).

Conclusions: Early TRE improves (tends to improve) skeletal muscle and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity, as well as self-reported QoL in people with metabolically complicated overweight/obesity.

Funding Sources: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Trust, Evelyn Trust, National Institute of Health Research