The Effect of Time-Restricted Eating Combined With Resistance Training on Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Health

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a broad term that encompasses a variety of programs that manipulate eating occasions by utilizing short-term fasts to improve body composition and overall health. A limited number of controlled trials have tested the effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) on body composition and cardio-metabolic health among active or exercising individuals. Studies at the level of the skeletal muscle show that a single bout of RT increased both MPS and muscle protein breakdown for up to 48 h, but while the relative stimulation of MPS was greater than MPB, MPB still exceeded MPS in the fasting state, resulting in no net muscle protein accretion. Since TRE programs necessitate prolonged periods without amino acid-induced stimulation of MPS, a question can arise whether TRE eating patterns with RT in middle-aged men may be beneficial for FFM and strength. This has implications for many populations, such as the elderly, who wish to counteract or reduce the loss of muscle mass.

In this lecture I will discuss the benefits of TRE, and the possible effect on metabolic diseases and muscle mass among strength trainers.