Overweight people who fast intermittently lose no more body mass than those who follow traditional diets that involve eating less each day, according to research that will intensify debate on the most effective slimming strategies.
Regimes that switch between eating and fasting have become a popular way to lose weight and some proponents claim the method is more effective than standard dieting. But scientists have found it is no miracle solution.
“Intermittent fasting may be a reasonable option for some people, but the current evidence doesn’t justify the enthusiasm we see on social media,” said Luis Garegnani, lead author of the study by the Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Cochrane Associate Centre. Instead, it yields results “similar to traditional dietary approaches for weight loss”.