The modulation of carbohydrate intake and intermittent fasting in obese Saudi women: a pilot study

Abstract Background In recent years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, leading to the development of various dietary interventions as potential treatments. Two popular diets are time-restricted feeding and low-carbohydrate diets, but there is limited research on the effects of combining them. This study assessed the effects of pairing an eight-hour time-restricted feeding window with a moderate-carbohydrate diet and compared to a paired eight-hour time-restricted feeding window with a regular diet. Results The study involved 52 obese women divided into three groups: the first group followed an 8 h time-restricted feeding with a moderate low-carbohydrate diet (8-hTRF+mLCD), the second group followed an 8 h time-restricted feeding with a regular diet (8-hTRF), and the third group was the control group. Both 8 h TRF+mLCD and 8 h TRF groups had a decrease in TG levels compared to the control group. The HDL levels in both TRF groups were significantly higher than the control group, while LDL levels remained statistically insignificant in both TRF groups. Conclusions This suggests that an 8 h TRF with or without mLCD can effectively treat obesity without a change in physical activity, and combining it with a low-carbohydrate diet gives better and more rapid results.