United States: The medical study featured in Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrates that alternate-day fasting creates better weight loss results than traditional diet approaches that restrict daily caloric intake. According to HealthDay reporting the study demonstrated that people following the 4:3 fasting pattern achieved an 8% reduction in body weight throughout a one-year period while consuming 80% fewer calories during only three days of the week. People who used standard daily calorie restrictions experienced weight loss equivalent to 5% while those employing intermittent fasting reached 8%, as reported by HealthDay.
Why Intermittent Fasting Works Better
Daily calorie restriction can be challenging to maintain long-term. According to Danielle Ostendorf, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and co-leader of the study, the 4:3 fasting method provides a viable alternative for those struggling with daily calorie tracking.
“Our results suggest that 4:3 intermittent fasting is an effective weight loss strategy that may yield slightly better results than daily calorie restriction, especially when combined with a high-intensity behavioral weight-loss program,” the researchers concluded.
Key Study Findings: More Weight Loss, Better Health
A research team studied 84 obese or overweight participants who used intermittent fasting along with 81 other participants who consumed restricted daily calories. Each group followed moderate-intensity exercise for 300 minutes per week which surpassed U.S. physical activity guidelines while receiving dietitian advice.
After one year, the study found:
- Among fasting participants 38% achieved weight loss exceeding 10% body weight but this rate was lower at 16% among the calorie-restricted participants.
- The fasting group demonstrated larger improvements in their blood pressure measurements together with reduced blood sugar levels and cholesterol measurements.
- People who followed intermittent fasting showed better weight maintenance compared to those on calorie-controlled diets because fewer participants exited the fasting protocol.
A Growing Interest in Fasting as a Weight Loss Strategy
Intermittent fasting has gained scientific focus because most people struggle to maintain daily calorie restrictions. The main benefit of fasting according to researchers is its simplified nature since people do not need to count their daily calorie consumption, as reported by HealthDay.
People who practice intermittent fasting benefit from its balanced structure combined with flexibility because it minimizes hunger experiences which makes weight control more achievable.