According to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, following an 8-hour time-restricted eating plan is linked to a 91% higher risk of dying due to cardiovascular disease.
The study included data from over 20,000 adults in the U.S. who participated in the 2003–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Participants completed two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires in which they reported their eating patterns. Then, they were followed for a median of eight years. The goal of the study was to see how eating patterns, and specifically 8-hour time-restricted eating patterns, may affect long-term health.
The results of the study showed that people who restricted their eating to eight hours per day had a 91% higher risk of death due to cardiovascular disease compared to people who ate for 12–16 hours per day. This increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease occurred even in people with preexisting heart disease or cancer. In people with preexisting heart disease, eating windows of 8–10 hours were also associated increased risk of death (66% higher) due to heart disease or stroke. Interestingly, time-restricted eating did not increase the overall risk of death from any cause. In patients with cancer, eating in a window of more than 16 hours per day was associated with a lower risk of death due to cancer.
The authors called their results surprising since 8-hour restricted eating patterns are popular and appear to have short-term health benefits. However, the results of this study clearly indicate that time-restricted eating may have negative long-term effects on health. These results are particularly important for patients with preexisting heart disease and cancer, and they encourage the use of personalized approaches to dietary recommendations.
Sources: AHA, Science Daily
