The study is specifically stating that of groups of mice consuming similar diets with the same caloric intake, the group that ate whenever they wanted became obese and unhealthy while the windowed eaters did not. That, I think, is scientific evidence that strict caloric regulation is not a complete solution as implied by you first commment. I think the researchers would agree that the difference between obese and healthy is not the result of a micro optimization.

The point I was making is that the equation isn't calories_in + calories_out = weight_loss/gain. It is at least x(calories_in) + y(calories_out) = weight_loss/gain where x and y are complex physical and chemical variables that we haven't completely teased out yet. One less than insignificant part of x seems to be related to the time window of consumption. A small change in x or y would result in significant improvements over the course of a life.