Energy balance
Intermittent fasting produces weight loss equivalent to daily caloric restriction, with no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the two methods.
If you are overweight or obese, intermittent fasting is a viable weight loss strategy that works just as well as counting calories every day. You can choose a schedule that fits your life (e.g., fasting 2 days a week or eating within a 12-hour window), but expect similar results to traditional dieting. It may be preferable if you find constant daily restriction difficult to maintain.
Intermittent fasting is equally effective as, but not superior to, daily caloric restriction.
Why this rating
Moderate strength of evidence for weight loss, but very low strength for superiority comparisons.
Source
Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Weight Loss and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: A Systematic Review
Ray Antonelli · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · 2019
DOI 10.17615/b4dd-gj08
More from this paper
- Intermittent fasting is associated with minor, non-significant adverse events such as headache and constipation, comparable to control groups.Moderate
- Intermittent fasting does not significantly improve cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, blood pressure) or diabetes markers (HbA1c, fasting glucose) compared to daily caloric restriction.Limited
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