Time-Limited Eating in Pediatric Patients with Obesity: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Obesity Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Time Limited Eating (TLE) is an effective adult obesity strategy, but data on its clinical use in children is limited.
• TLE involves alternating normal eating with periods of calorie restriction, potentially more feasible and less stigmatizing than daily restriction for children.
• This approach avoids intensive calorie counting and prolonged restriction, mitigating risks to growth and eating behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a Time Limited Eating (TLE) approach in a pediatric weight management setting.
• To assess patient and family satisfaction with the TLE intervention.
• To measure changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score over a 4-month period.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving 4 pediatric patients (ages 5-15) with diverse health conditions.
• Implementation of a TLE regimen: 16-hour fast and 8-hour feeding window, 3-5 days per week.
• Data collection included BMI z-score changes from baseline and qualitative family feedback.

Main Results:

• Patients experienced an average decrease in BMI z-score of -0.24 SD after 4 months.
• Families reported high satisfaction, citing feasibility, flexibility, and sustainability of the TLE approach.
• The intervention was successfully implemented in a real-world clinical setting.

Conclusions:

• Time Limited Eating (TLE) is a well-tolerated and feasible dietary strategy for pediatric weight management.
• The intervention demonstrated positive preliminary results in reducing BMI z-scores.
• Further research is needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of TLE in pediatric obesity.