Restoration of circadian rhythm mitigates high-fat diet-induced obesity via time-restricted feeding in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is emerging as a promising chrono nutritional strategy for alleviating the metabolic and circadian disruptions induced by high-fat diets (HFDs). This paper synthesizes evidence from model organisms, particularly Drosophila melanogaster, demonstrating that aligning feeding schedules with endogenous circadian rhythms can significantly attenuate the adverse effects of diet-induced obesity. HFDs are known to disrupt gene expression, alter sleep architecture, and impair metabolic homeostasis. In contrast, TRF without reducing caloric intake and restores rhythmic gene expression in peripheral clocks, enhances glucose and lipid metabolism, thus improves sleep quality in behavioral rhythmicity. Notably, TRF reinstates metabolic rhythmicity by modulating hepatic metabolic fluxes and regulating adipocyte thermogenesis and mitochondrial function. In Drosophila, TRF reduces obesity, improves sleep patterns, and enhances overall health indicators, including locomotor activity and cardiac function. These beneficial effects are mirrored in rodent models, supporting the cross-species efficacy of TRF. This research underscores the importance of sleep as a modifiable determinant of metabolic regulation, emphasizing the dynamic interplay among sleep, feeding time, and circadian alignment. Understanding the bidirectional relationship between feeding rhythms and behavioral changes offers therapeutic potential for combating obesity and metabolic disorders through non-pharmacological interventions grounded in circadian biology.