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A popular dieting trend, intermittent fasting, may not offer much over traditional dieting for losing weight, according to a new randomized trial published this week. The study found that people living in China who were told to fast while dieting did lose weight over a year’s time, but not significantly more than those who were told to diet as usual. There were also no significant differences in other relevant measurements, such as changes in body fat or metabolic risk factors.
Intermittent fasting has emerged as a prominent style of dieting in recent years. Proponents claim that by restricting when you eat to certain times, you can better burn off the body’s stores of fat. Some also say that it makes it easier for people to limit the calories they eat on a daily basis. There are various methods of fasting, but popular ones include eating very little food for two days a week, then normally the rest of the week, or only eating during the daytime hours.
There has been some research suggesting an added benefit from intermittent fasting over traditional dieting. But much of the data has come from animal studies or from observational or short-lasting studies in people. This new trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, appears to provide a more rigorous test of its effectiveness.
The study involved 139 volunteers with a body mass index between 28 and 45 (a BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 is obese). They were randomized into two groups. Each group was told to restrict their calories for the next year, with 1,500 to 1800 calories a day recommended for men and 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women. But one group was further instructed to only eat between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Both also received nutritional shakes for the first six months and counseling for the entire year to help them adhere to the diet.
gizmodo.com
Intermittent fasting has emerged as a prominent style of dieting in recent years. Proponents claim that by restricting when you eat to certain times, you can better burn off the body’s stores of fat. Some also say that it makes it easier for people to limit the calories they eat on a daily basis. There are various methods of fasting, but popular ones include eating very little food for two days a week, then normally the rest of the week, or only eating during the daytime hours.
There has been some research suggesting an added benefit from intermittent fasting over traditional dieting. But much of the data has come from animal studies or from observational or short-lasting studies in people. This new trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, appears to provide a more rigorous test of its effectiveness.
The study involved 139 volunteers with a body mass index between 28 and 45 (a BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 is obese). They were randomized into two groups. Each group was told to restrict their calories for the next year, with 1,500 to 1800 calories a day recommended for men and 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women. But one group was further instructed to only eat between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Both also received nutritional shakes for the first six months and counseling for the entire year to help them adhere to the diet.
Intermittent Fasting Not Better Than Regular Dieting, Year-Long Trial Finds
Volunteers who were told to eat only during the day lost about as much weight as people dieting without time restrictions over a 12-month span.
gizmodo.com
