Fasting Shows No Weight-Loss Benefit Over Standard Meals in Randomized Trial

[Arthur]

Fasting Shows No Weight-Loss Benefit Over Standard Meals in Randomized Trial
By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Fasting for two thirds of the day does not lead to greater weight loss than eating meals throughout the day, according to a randomized trial in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Roughly 100 overweight or obese adults were assigned to time-restricted eating or consistent meal timing. In the time-restricted group, participants were advised to eat as needed from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m., and then fast for 16 hours until 12 p.m. the next day. In the consistent-meals group, participants were told to eat three structured meals across the day, with snacks as needed. There were no recommendations about caloric intake or physical activity.

At 12 weeks, mean weight loss did not differ significantly between the groups (0.94 kg with time-restricted eating and 0.68 kg with consistent meals). Most secondary outcomes, including changes in fat mass, lipids, and fasting glucose, also did not differ significantly between the groups. Of note, the time-restricted group lost more appendicular lean mass than the consistent-meals group.

The researchers conclude that the findings “do not support the efficacy of [time-restricted eating] for weight loss.”
LINK(S):
JAMA Internal Medicine article (Free abstract)

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2771095

[Greg Mihalik]

“There were no recommendations about caloric intake or physical activity.”

Yep. Don’t reduce calories or increase activity and there will be no change. Brilliant!

Use IF as a technique to support calorie reduction while increasing activity and many people will see sustained weight loss.

I am one of them.

[Arthur]

Greg.  your routine obviously works.  Any plan that reduces caloric intake and increases activity will work.  This study does not address your technique.  It addresses the advertised “go eat whatever you want for 6 hours, sit on the couch, and loose weight, and be healthy” proponents.

[Jacob]

It addresses the advertised “go eat whatever you want for 6 hours, sit on the couch, and loose weight, and be healthy” proponents

This study shows that humans can consume the same amount of calories and nutrients in a restricted time window as they can unrestricted throughout the day.

To be clear, there was no diet plan, no exercise plan, and the average weight change after 12 weeks for both groups was under 1kg (and they all had a lot to lose); Nothing happened during the study.

This is evidence that fasting is just as healthy as eating regularly…

Combine this evidence with evidence on autophagy, immune system function, etc and there is a real case to believe fasting will improve people’s health, generally speaking.

 

[Keith Johnson]

Thanks. Good to know.

[Author]

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