Effects of time-restricted eating on actigraphy-derived sleep parameters: post hoc analysis of a randomized, isocaloric feeding study.

STUDY

OBJECTIVES

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a novel dietary intervention targeting weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors. The impact of TRE on sleep patterns remains under-explored.

METHODS

This was a post hoc analysis of a parallel-arm, controlled feeding trial in 41 adults with obesity and prediabetes/diabetes, randomized to TRE (08:00 am-06:00 pm) or usual eating pattern (UEP; 08:00 am-12:00 am) for 12 weeks. We objectively determined sleep-wake patterns from 7-day wrist actigraphy data obtained at baseline and week 12. From this data, we derived total sleep time (TST) and sleep midpoint over a 24-hour period, sleep onset/offset, and sleep continuity measures. We used paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed rank tests to compare data between baseline and week 12 within intervention arms and Mann-Whitney U tests or Wilcoxon signed rank tests to compare changes between intervention arms.

RESULTS

38 participants (20 UEP; 18 TRE; 93% of those randomized in the parent trial) with adequate actigraphy data (mean age 59.6 ± 7.3 years, 92% female, 92% Black, mean BMI 36.3 ± 4.7 kg/m2) were analyzed. Compared to UEP, TRE increased TST by 55 minutes (p = .03). TRE shifted sleep midpoint to 44 minutes earlier, from 03:24 am to 02:40 am (p = .01), while UEP maintained the same sleep midpoint at 03:15 am. Sleep onset shifted from a median of 12:22 am to 11:52 pm in TRE (p = .03) while it remained stable in UEP (p = .97). There were no differences in sleep offset and sleep continuity within and between intervention arms.

CONCLUSIONS

TRE increased sleep time and caused earlier sleep onset compared to UEP, revealing how the timing of eating may affect sleep timing and duration.

CLINICAL TRIAL: The Time Restricted Intake of Meals Study (TRIM). URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03527368?tab=history&a=4.

REGISTRATION: NCT03527368.