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New Study Questions Intermittent Fasting Benefits
8 Jan
Summary
- Intermittent fasting aids weight loss but shows no wider health improvements.
- A small German study involved 31 overweight or obese women over two weeks.
- Experts suggest cardiometabolic benefits may stem from calorie reduction, not timing.
A recent two-week study involving 31 overweight women has raised questions about the widely promoted health benefits of intermittent fasting. While participants successfully lost weight on time-restricted eating schedules, they showed no significant improvements in key cardiometabolic markers such as blood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels.
The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that the perceived advantages of intermittent fasting might be linked to a reduction in overall calorie intake rather than the specific timing of meals. Researchers also noted shifts in participants' circadian rhythms, though the health implications remain unclear. The study's small sample size and short duration have led some experts to question the robustness of its conclusions.
Concerns were raised about potential nutrient shortfalls, particularly if meal windows are restricted without careful planning. Experts emphasize the need for larger, longer-term studies to explore the effects of intermittent fasting, especially in combination with caloric restriction, across diverse populations and accounting for factors like stress and sleep.
