---
title: "TREAT JAMA 16:8 Fasting RCT: Why Unanchored Protein Intake Caused Lean Mass Loss (TREAT JAMA Trial Audit) | Nutrition Research Labs"
source_url: "https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/time-restricted-eating-intermittent-fasting-lean-mass-rct"
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description: "Clinical audit of TREAT JAMA Trial (PMID: 33009048, 116 adults with overweight or obesity (BMI 27-43)): Weight loss was modest and not statistically significant"
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> **Canonical Source:** [https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/time-restricted-eating-intermittent-fasting-lean-mass-rct](https://nutritionresearchlabs.com/studies/time-restricted-eating-intermittent-fasting-lean-mass-rct)
>
> *Clinical audit of TREAT JAMA Trial (PMID: 33009048, 116 adults with overweight or obesity (BMI 27-43)): Weight loss was modest and not statistically significant*

## Media Hype vs. Absolute Clinical Reality (Information Gain Audit)

- **Viral Headline Claim:**
- **True Placebo-Adjusted Absolute Outcome:** Weight loss was modest and not statistically significantly different between groups (-0.94kg in TRE vs -0.68kg in control). However, 65% of weight lost in the TRE group was lean mass (appendicular skeletal muscle).
- **Relative vs. Absolute Statistical Breakdown:** The trial allowed ad libitum feeding with zero guidance on daily protein targets (participants averaged ~0.8g/kg/day) and did not include resistance exercise. Skipping breakfast compressed protein intake into a narrow 8-hour window, failing to trigger the leucine trigger threshold across multiple daily muscle protein synthesis (MPS) spikes.
- **Funding & Sponsor Audit:** National Institutes of Health (NIH) & UCSF Departmental Funds (Independent Academic / NIH)
- **Human Equivalent Dosing Protocol:** When implementing 16:8 time-restricted feeding, anchor total daily protein at >=1.6g/kg and consume at least 30g-40g high-leucine protein at both the opening and closing feeding windows.

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