Understanding Participants' and Health Professionals' Perceptions and Experiences of Time-Restricted Eating: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence

Abstract

Background: Time-restricted eating (TRE) limits food intake to a specific daily window and has gained popularity, showing modest benefits for cardiometabolic health. However, perspectives and experiences from adults and healthcare professionals about TRE remain underexplored but are vital for successful implementation in research and clinical practice. Objective: To synthesize qualitative evidence on participants' and healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions of TRE, with a gender-based analytical lens. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on four databases from their inception until March 2025, searching for studies reporting qualitative analysis of the perceptions and experiences associated with TRE in adults and healthcare professionals. Methodological quality was appraised using the CASP checklist. Thematic synthesis was applied to extract overarching themes, with additional gender-based analysis. Confidence in the findings was assessed using the GRADE- CERQual approach. Results: Thirteen articles including 225 participants (aged between 18 and 74 years), of which 22 were health professionals and dietitians were included. Three themes were found: motivation; barriers and facilitators, including three subthemes in each: biological, psychological and socio-cultural. Women's perspectives were commonly related to disappointment with previous diet and body dissatisfaction as motivators, food craving and emotional eating behaviors as barriers, and improvement of healthy eating habits and hunger control as facilitators. Otherwise, men were more motivated by managing appetite with shorter eating windows and found routine and day planning as key facilitators. Conclusion: Perceptions and experiences of TRE are shaped by diverse motivators and challenges. Tailored, gender-sensitive approaches to support TRE integration in clinical practice are needed.