Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Family-Based Time Limited Eating to Treat
Amy C Gross1,2, Erika S Helgeson3, Qi Wang4
1Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Background:
Time-limited eating (TLE) shows promise as an adult obesity treatment; little is known in paediatrics or families.
Objective:
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of family-based TLE.
Methods:
This was a 12 week pilot randomized trial comparing family-based TLE to dietary standard of care (SOC). Families included a child aged 3-9 years and caretaker, both with obesity. TLE received instruction to end eating after the evening meal and otherwise eat ad libitum. SOC received dietary instruction. Primary outcomes, feasibility and acceptability, were measured through retention, intervention burden (i.e., treatment time) and satisfaction surveys. Anthropometrics were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Between-arm comparisons of BMI percentile above the median (%BMIp50) used mixed effects models to account for family clustering; comparisons of adult BMI and child BMI percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95) used two-sample t-tests.
Results:
Eighteen families enrolled (10 TLE; 8 SOC). Retention was 94% (100% TLE, 88% SOC). TLE required significantly less total treatment time than SOC [84.3 vs. 140.9 min; p < 0.001]. Satisfaction was high; 89% TLE and 100% SOC would recommend their treatment. Overall, SOC reduced mean %BMIp50 more than TLE (mean difference: -3.9; p = 0.001), with no difference in change in child %BMIp95 between arms (-0.2, p = 0.92), but with SOC reducing parental BMI more than TLE (-1.6, p = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Family-based TLE was feasible and acceptable and required less time to implement than SOC, suggesting TLE could be an accessible dietary intervention for families. Fully powered studies are needed to determine BMI efficacy.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05107726.
