Time-restricted eating plus calorie-restricted diet versus calorie-restricted diet in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

This study aims to assess the impact of 8-h time-restricted eating (TRE) combined with a calorie-restricted diet (CRD) on weight, insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic factors in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 93 participants were randomly assigned to the TRE or the usual care group, both of whom were prescribed 1200-1500 kcal/day. The TRE group consumed all calories within an 8-h window, while the usual care group maintained their usual eating patterns. Assessments were administered at baseline, week 8, and week 16. At 16 weeks, both groups showed significant weight reductions from baseline: -7.47 kg in the TRE group and -4.38 kg in the usual care group (between-group difference -3.09 kg, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Significant reductions in HOMA-IR in both groups from baseline to week 8 or week 16. 8-h TRE combined with a CRD confers beneficial effects on weight loss, IR, and metabolic factors in obese women with PCOS.