Time-restricted eating for body weight management in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

# Time-restricted eating for body weight management in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial *Published: 2026 Mar 27* Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological disorder characterized by weight-loss resistance. Time-restricted eating (TRE) has become a popular weight-loss tool. However, the efficacy of TRE for weight management in PCOS remains understudied. We evaluated the effectiveness of TRE compared with standard care (daily calorie restriction (CR)) and a no-intervention control in women with PCOS. Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups for 6 months: a 6-hour TRE regimen (all meals consumed between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., without calorie tracking), a CR plan (25% daily energy restriction) or a control group with no dietary changes. The primary endpoint was percent change in body weight at 6 months. By month 6, body weight significantly decreased in the TRE group (-4.32% (95% CI, -6.20, -2.44), P < 0.01) and the CR group (-4.66% (95% CI, -7.13, -2.19), P < 0.01), relative to controls, with no difference between the TRE and CR groups (0.34% (95% CI, -2.15, 2.83), P = 0.79). No serious adverse events were reported. Our results show that in women with PCOS, TRE induced greater weight loss than the controls and was comparable to that achieved with daily CR. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05629858 . DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04316-7