A study presented at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco, has revealed that intermittent energy restriction (IER), time-restricted eating (TRE), and continuous energy restriction (CER) can all lead to improvements in blood sugar levels and body weight for individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The research, led by Dr. Haohao Zhang from The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, is notable for being the first to directly compare these three dietary approaches in this specific patient population.
Conducted as a single-center, randomized, parallel-controlled trial, the study involved 90 participants, with 63 completing the 16-week intervention. Participants, predominantly male, had an average age of 36.8 years and a baseline body mass index (BMI) of 31.7 kg/m². They were assigned to one of the three dietary groups, with all groups maintaining a consistent weekly caloric intake.
Results indicated that while there were no significant differences in overall reductions in HbA1c levels and weight loss across the three groups, the IER group demonstrated the most substantial decreases in fasting blood glucose and triglycerides, along with improved insulin sensitivity. Adherence rates were highest in the IER group at 85%, followed closely by the CER group at 84%, while the TRE group had an adherence rate of 78%.
Overall, the study suggests that these dietary interventions can be effective for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, offering clinicians evidence to guide treatment choices. Mild hypoglycemia was noted in a few participants across all groups, but adverse events were generally similar. The findings present a promising avenue for dietary management in this patient demographic.