Time-Restricted Eating: Safety and Efficacy in Youth

Increased pediatric obesity has been accompanied by a rising incidence of life-limiting obesity-related comorbidities. In pediatrics, conventional health and behavior lifestyle interventions comprehensively address nutritional, physical activity, and behavioral topics to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. There has been increased interest in alternative interventional approaches that can be implemented without requiring additional resources. One simpler and promising approach is based on the timing of eating. Intermittent fasting harnesses aligning circadian rhythms with peripheral neuroendocrine biology to improve cardiometabolic risk. Although the research on intermittent fasting in youth for weight loss purposes is still in its early stages, the simplicity of the approach has promise in this age group. Below, we summarize the available literature on all forms of intermittent fasting in youth. The current research, although limited, supports its feasibility, acceptability, and safety in youth with obesity. Future research is needed to investigate the efficacy of intermittent fasting in youth, discover the optimal timing of the eating window, and find the best methods to administer intermittent fasting across all communities.