[kenha]

Could you elaborate on the no control other than against themselves aspect?

I read this in the original paper, “Participants were randomly assigned to follow either the control schedule (eating between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm; 12‐hour daily eating period)”

Other than the N is on the lower side, how’s this way of setting up a control group insufficient?

[sbierwagen]

The control group needs to be thinking they're doing something that works. If it's obvious they're in the control group, then it's no longer a control group.

[traek]

It’s still a control, just not blinded to the participants (which, yes, can result in bias).