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Background & Aim: Food addiction (FA) as a specific food-related behavior may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gut microbiota (GM) alterations probably through fasting are closely related to brain function, affecting eating behaviors and body weight management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on serum BDNF levels and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women with FA., Methods and Design: This clinical trial was performed with a 2-month follow-up on 56 obese and overweight women with FA. Participants were randomly divided into two groups receiving a low-calorie diet (n = 27) and a group receiving a low-calorie diet with TRF (n = 29). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, eating behavior, and stress were assessed during the study period., Results: The reductions in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat mass were significantly higher in the TRF group compared to the control group at week 8 ( P  = 0.018, P  = 0.015. P  = 0.03, and P  = 0.036, respectively). The cognitive restriction score was higher in the TRF as compared with the control group ( P  = 0.002). The food addiction criteria score was significantly reduced in both groups ( P  < 0.001). Serum levels of BDNF were significantly increased in the TRF group ( P  < 0.001). In addition, BDNF levels had a positive and significant correlation with the cognitive restriction score (r = 0.468 and P  < 0.001), While the correlation with FA was not significant (β = 0.588 and P  = 0.618). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein decreased significantly in both groups, but this decrease was significantly higher in the TRF group than in the control group ( P  < 0.001)., Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a low-calorie diet with TRF is more effective in weight management than a low-calorie diet alone, probably through further modulating the GM and improving BDNF levels. More effective weight loss in the TRF is probably related to better management of eating behavior than FA., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20131228015968N7.

Background: Food addiction is one of the behavioral factors that play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Much evidence is available suggesting intestinal microbiomes can play a role in eating behavior, body composition, and BDNF levels, and they can be modified by time-restricted feeding (TRF). So, this study will aim to evaluate the effect of TRF on anthropometric measures, eating behavior, stress, and serum BDNF and LBP levels in women with overweight/obesity and food addiction., Methods: We will carry out a randomized clinical trial for 8 weeks to evaluate the effect of a TRF on anthropometric measures, eating behavior, stress level, serum BDNF and LBP levels in women with overweight/obesity and food addiction., Discussion: Given the effect of BDNF on regulating eating behavior and body weight and the effect of dietary restrictions on BDNF and the gut microbiome, the TRF diet could possibly be a new way to successfully manage weight through modifying BDNF in people with eating disorders, including food addiction., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20131228015968N7 . Registered on 25 October 2020., (© 2022. The Author(s).)