How many studies support Meal Timing?

A systematic review and meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open found meal timing is associated with anthropometric and metabolic outcomes independent of total caloric intake, and several randomized controlled trials support this directly: early time-restricted feeding improved 24-hour glucose levels and affected circadian and aging-related biomarkers in one trial, while a separate trial found prolonged, controlled daytime eating (versus delayed, evening-shifted eating) improved weight and metabolic markers even when calorie content was matched between groups. That's backed by 5 published studies in Vitaebase's database, including 3 randomized controlled trials and 1 meta-analysis, the most recent from 2024 -- a modest but real research base.