Research

Energy balance

Intermittent severe caloric restriction (3 days/week, 600-800 kcal) combined with habitual intake on other days for 6 weeks produces significant weight loss primarily from android fat mass while preserving fat-free mass and maintaining metabolic health in active athletes.

If you are an active athlete needing to lose weight, try restricting calories to 600-800 kcal on 3 alternating days (e.g., Mon/Wed/Fri) while eating normally on the other 4 days for 6 weeks. This method preserves muscle better than daily dieting and is easier to stick to socially. Ensure you are eating enough protein on non-restriction days to support your training.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Se consigue una pérdida de peso considerable, principalmente a expensas de la masa grasa (de predominio androide), con un menor efecto sobre la masa libre de grasar, y existe una buena tolerancia y adherencia a la pauta propuesta.
Victoria Pons Sala · Nutrición clínica y dietética hospitalaria/Nutrición clínica, dietética hospitalaria · 2018

Why this rating

Small sample size (n=18), single-arm pre-post design, short duration (6 weeks).

Source

Restricción calórica, un método eficaz, sencillo y saludable para perder peso

Victoria Pons Sala · Nutrición clínica y dietética hospitalaria/Nutrición clínica, dietética hospitalaria · 2018

DOI 10.12873/374pons

rct · n=18
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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