Intermittent Fasting Good for Weight Loss, at Least Short Term
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The health benefits of intermittent fasting are slowly being clarified as more evidence continues to emerge, say the authors of a new review of 21 studies. Initial findings suggest that fasting might be effective for mild to moderate weight loss for certain groups of people, at least in the short term. The trials so far have only been conducted in adults — generally with overweight or obesity and sometimes hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes — but some have been performed in those of normal weight. Those with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or other comorbidities, or patients who need to take medications with meals at certain times of the day, should seek clinical supervision when considering intermittent fasting.
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@kevin Despite the recent surge in the popularity of intermittent fasting, "only a few studies have examined the health benefits of these diets in humans.
They identified 21 clinical trials of three types of intermittent fasting strategies:
Alternate day fasting (alternating between consuming 0 to 500 kcal on "fasting" days, followed by unlimited food on "feasting" days), six trials.
5:2 diet ("feasting" on 5 days and "fasting" on 2 days), seven trials.
Time-restricted eating (eating during a 4- to 8- hour window), nine trials.