Energy balance
Intermittent fasting significantly reduces body weight and BMI in overweight and obese adults compared to control diets, with alternate-day fasting showing superior weight loss effects compared to time-restricted eating.
Intermittent fasting is an effective strategy for weight loss in overweight and obese individuals. Alternate-day fasting appears to offer greater weight loss benefits than time-restricted eating. To implement, choose a method (like ADF, TRE, or 5:2) that fits your lifestyle, ensuring you maintain a caloric deficit during fasting periods. Consistency over 12+ weeks yields the best results for body composition.
IF significantly reduced BW (MD: -3.73 kg, 95% CI: -5.29, -2.17) and BMI (MD: -1.04 kg/m², 95% CI: -1.39, -0.70) in overweight/obese adults... Subgroup analyses showed that alternate day fasting (ADF) was superior to time-restricted eating (TRE) in terms of weight loss and improvement in LDL.
Why this rating
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 RCTs, though with moderate heterogeneity in some lipid measures.
Source
The impact of intermittent fasting on body composition and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Bingjie Wang et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2025
DOI 10.1186/s12937-025-01178-6
More from this paper
- Intermittent fasting significantly improves lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol and LDL, but may temporarily increase triglycerides in short-term interventions (≤ 12 weeks).Good
- Intermittent fasting significantly reduces diastolic blood pressure but has no significant effect on systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, or HbA1c in overweight and obese adults.Good
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →