Eating all your food early in the day doesn’t make you burn more calories overall in a 24-hour period, even if you fast longer.

Scientific Claim

Early time-restricted feeding does not significantly alter 24-hour total energy expenditure in overweight adults, with a mean difference of 10 ± 16 kcal/day (p=0.55) when food intake and meal frequency are matched.

Original Statement

“eTRF did not affect 24-hour energy expenditure (Δ=10±16 kcal/d; p=0.55).”

From study:Early Time-Restricted Feeding Reduces Appetite and Increases Fat Oxidation but Does Not Affect Energy Expenditure in Humans

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The RCT design with direct 24-hour calorimetry provides high-quality evidence for a causal null effect. The language 'did not affect' is appropriate and supported by the data.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Early Time-Restricted Feeding Reduces Appetite and Increases Fat Oxidation but Does Not Affect Energy Expenditure in Humans

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2019 Aug

This study found that eating all your food earlier in the day doesn’t make your body burn more or fewer calories overall — it just makes you feel less hungry.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Early Time-Restricted Feeding Reduces Appetite and Increases Fat Oxidation but Does Not Affect Energy Expenditure in Humans

Score: 65

DOI: 10.1002/oby.22518

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