As with many diet trends, intermittent fasting seems to work very well for some people, but new studies show that this practice is less effective than other forms of diet.
A recent study from the Southern Medical University of China, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, follows an intermittent fasting (also known as a time-limited diet) and eats only for a defined period of time (eg, from noon to 8 pm). I investigated the dieters. ), Follow a low-calorie diet and eat at any time of the day compared to others.
The results showed that the intermittent fasting group consumed about the same amount of calories as the low-calorie diet, both groups of the diet lost weight (14-18 pounds on average), and their body fat and lean body mass measurements improved. I showed that. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount lost between the groups.
Devika Umashanker, MD, Medical Director of Medical Weight Loss at Hartford HealthCare, said the benefits of intermittent or time-limited fasting seem to help suppress an individual’s appetite and reduce their diet.
“In another study, researchers found that a time-limited diet lowered levels of the gastric hunger hormone ghrelin, improved appetite control, and increased fat burning over a 24-hour period,” Umashanker said. The doctor explained. “But the study is small, with only 22 participants, and more research is needed in a larger population.”
Recent revelations about the benefits of intermittent fasting did not surprise her due to the limited availability of diet research.
“In general, nutrition surveys are difficult to draw conclusions from a larger population due to high turnover and low enrollment rates,” she said.
When dealing with weight loss patients, one time-related limitation she advocates is eating early in the day.
“Eating early helps synchronize with our body’s circadian rhythms and helps promote weight loss,” said Dr. Umashanker. “I usually recommend not eating after 7 or 8 pm”
Here are some other tips for a healthy diet that promotes weight loss:
- Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark green vegetables, and two or more different fruits daily.
- Choose lean meat.
- Drink more water.
