Participants who followed the intermittent fasting schedule lost an average of about 5.5 pounds during the study, while those in the control group gained roughly 3.7 pounds. Blood tests also revealed meaningful improvements in markers linked to inflammation and immune function, including reduced levels of leptin and PAI-1. These changes occurred without any instructions to cut calories.

The findings were published in Gastroenterology. People with IBD are advised to consult their healthcare provider before adjusting their eating schedule to determine whether intermittent fasting is appropriate for them.

How Time-Restricted Feeding Works

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) means consuming all meals within a defined 8-hour period each day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. The 12-week study included 35 adults with Crohn’s disease and living with obesity or overweight. Twenty participants were assigned to follow TRF, while 15 continued their regular diet. Researchers evaluated disease activity, inflammation, and body composition at both the beginning and the end of the trial.

“This study shows that while weight loss is an important outcome in people with overweight and Crohn’s disease, time-restricted feeding offers additional benefits beyond just the scale,” said Maitreyi Raman, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary, the study’s senior author. “We saw meaningful improvements in disease symptoms, reduced abdominal discomfort, favorable shifts in metabolism and inflammation, and promising changes in gut bacteria — all suggesting that intermittent fasting may help patients maintain lasting remission from Crohn’s disease.”

Support From the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

The research received funding through the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Litwin IBD Pioneers program. “Time-restricted feeding is showing real promise as a new way to help people with Crohn’s disease manage not only their symptoms but also their overall health,” said Andres Lorenzo Hurtado, PhD, Senior Vice President of Translational Research & IBD Ventures at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “This research suggests that changing when we eat — not just what we eat — can improve metabolism, help the immune system work better, and support long-term remission from Crohn’s disease. We are excited to support studies like this that put patients at the center of new solutions and encourage more research to make these benefits last for everyone living with IBD.”

“People with Crohn’s disease often look for practical tools to support their health alongside medication,” said Natasha Haskey, PhD, RD, Research Associate at the University of British Columbia and lead investigator in the study. “Our research suggests time-restricted eating may be a sustainable option grounded in biology, offering patients more ways to manage their own wellness.”

Reduced Visceral Fat and Gut Inflammation

Beyond easing symptoms, participants in the intermittent fasting group experienced a significant reduction in harmful visceral fat and key inflammatory signals in the bloodstream. Because both groups consumed similar foods in comparable amounts, the improvements were not simply the result of better diet quality or lower calorie intake. Instead, the findings indicate that meal timing itself may play an important role in digestive and immune health.

Although the results are encouraging, researchers stress that larger studies are necessary to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of time-restricted feeding for a broader population of people living with IBD.

This research was funded by Crohn’s Colitis Foundation, Litwin IBD Pioneers Grant (ID: 879104) and Imagine Network (University of Calgary).