A medical expert has suggested that adopting a simple 12-hour eating window could significantly improve overall health and lower the risk of developing diabetes.
According to Dr Rangan Chatterjee — an author and former NHS general practitioner — this approach encourages people to consume all their daily meals within a fixed 12-hour period, helping to curb unhealthy late-night snacking and support fat burning.
Dr Chatterjee shared the dietary strategy during an appearance on Channel 4’s programme Live Well with the Drug-Free Doctor, where he explained that many individuals seeking better health could benefit from this easy lifestyle change.
He said that if a person finishes their last meal at around 7pm, the body spends the next few hours using glucose from that meal as fuel. After approximately four hours, particularly during sleep, the body begins relying on glycogen stored in the liver.
However, Dr Chatterjee noted that once around 10 hours pass after the final meal, these glycogen reserves are largely depleted, prompting the body to start burning fat instead.
He explained that the ability to efficiently switch between different energy sources is known as metabolic flexibility, which is considered a key factor in long-term health and life expectancy.
Citing research findings, Dr Chatterjee added that time-restricted eating may help promote weight loss, improve sleep quality, enhance digestion, strengthen immune function, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
