Association of sleep and feeding time in diet-induced obesity <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

The circadian timing controls many species’ ~ 24-h oscillations. Light, social interactions, and nutrient availability control metabolic and physiological processes to preserve metabolic homeostasis. However, a key question remains: how does the circadian clock coordinate multiple distinct behavioral outputs such as sleep-wake cycles and fasting–feeding rhythms, and how are these behaviors interconnected with metabolic regulation? Disruption of circadian rhythms, whether through genetic impairment of core clock genes, altered light/dark cycles, or misaligned meal timing, has been shown to adversely affect metabolic health. Several studies have aimed to investigate the interplay between sleep and metabolism, particularly focusing on the role of molecular clock oscillations in regulating these processes. The present study seeks to understand the impact of HFD-induced obesity on sleep parameters, with specific emphasis on the potential effects of TRF. TRF has emerged as a promising strategy to counteract metabolic disruption associated with HFD and the influence of TRF on sleep regulation in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> in the context of diet-induced obesity. We examined feeding rhythms and sleep patterns across four dietary conditions: normal diet (ND), HFD, ND with TRF and HFD with TRF. Our findings highlight the disruption of sleep rhythms induced by an HFD and demonstrate the potential of TRF to ameliorate these disturbances.