Intermittent Fasting and Calorie Restriction Might Work Equally Well for Weight Loss

But part of their benefit relative to controls might have been due to differences in counseling.

Time-restricted eating (TRE), also known as intermittent fasting, is a weight-loss regimen that restricts food to a specific daily timeframe, rather than requiring adherents to count calories. TRE is increasingly popular, but evidence of its effectiveness is limited.

Researchers randomized 90 adults (body-mass index, 30–50 kg/m²) to TRE, calorie restriction, or no intervention. Group instructions were as follows:

TRE group: Eat as desired between noon and 8 p.m. and drink only calorie-free liquids at other times. After 6 months, expand the food window to 10 hours daily.
Calorie-restriction group: Reduce caloric intake by 25%. After 6 months, take in enough calories to meet calculated energy needs.
Control group: Spread meals over at least 10 ho…

Reviewing Author

Bruce Soloway, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Bruce Soloway, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Intermittent Fasting and Calorie Restriction Might Work Equally Well for Weight Loss

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Reviewing Author