Recent research shows that the combination of time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional training improves body composition and cardiometabolic health and improves health outcomes more effectively than either method alone. It is emphasized that promising strategies for improvement are offered.
Obese women experienced improvements in body composition and cardiometabolic health.
According to a recent study published in the journal Pro Swan, integrating time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional training can improve body composition and cardiometabolic parameters more effectively than either approach alone. The study was conducted by Ranya Ameur and Rami Maaloul from the University of Sfax in Tunisia, along with colleagues.
Dietary changes and exercise are well-known ways to lose weight and improve cardiometabolic health. However, finding the right combination of lifestyle changes to produce sustainable results can be difficult. Previous research has shown that time-restricted eating (restricting when you eat, not what you eat) and high-intensity functional training (combining intense aerobic and strength exercise) are beneficial. , it has been shown that it may be easy to work on in the long term.
Research design. Credit: Ameur et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0
In the new study, researchers investigated the effects of time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional training on body composition and markers of cardiometabolic health such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and lipid levels. Sixty-four obese women completed one of three groups: time-restricted eating (food only), high-intensity functional training (exercise only), or time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional training (food + exercise). Assigned to Crab. Participants who followed the time-restricted diet only ate between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Participants in the functional training group trained with an instructor three days a week.
research result
After 12 weeks, all three groups had significant weight loss and reductions in waist and hip circumference. Similarly, all groups showed favorable changes in lipid and glucose levels.
Some differences were observed between groups. For example, lean body mass (a combination of lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass) and blood pressure improved in the diet plus exercise and exercise groups, but remained unchanged in the diet-alone group.
Participants in the diet + exercise group generally experienced greater changes in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters than diet or exercise alone.
The researchers noted that this was a relatively small study and both groups reduced their calorie intake, making it difficult to determine the contribution of specific exercise habits or time-restricted diets and calorie reduction. did. However, researchers say that combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training may improve body composition and cardiometabolic health.
The authors add that “combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training is a promising strategy to improve body composition and cardiometabolic health.”
Reference: “Unlocking the power of synergy: High-intensity functional training and early time-restricted eating to transform body composition and cardiometabolic health in obese, inactive women” Ranya Ameur, Rami Maaloul, Sémah Tagougui, Fadoua Neffati, Faten Hadj Written by Qassem, Mohamed Fadel Najjar, Achraf Ammar, Omar Hammouda, May 1, 2024. Pro Swan.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301369
