Various interval fasting regimens can help lose weight in obesity, but the number of pounds lost may not be enough to improve health. This was shown by a study from Bond University (Australia) published in the journal JAMA Network Open.Researchers analyzed 29 randomized clinical trials involving 2,485 adults. 69% of them were women, with a mean age of 44 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 33 kg/m2, which corresponds to obesity.Weight loss interventions included time-restricted eating, reducing the frequency of meals at eight and consuming most of their calories in the morning. All of these measures resulted in a loss of 1.3 to 1.8 kg over three months. Participants also had decreased levels of glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose. The changes were small, so it is unclear how they affected diabetes risk.Researchers noted that the dietary interventions studied may be a simple approach to weight loss. However, the modest weight loss observed may not result in meaningful health benefits. Obesity affects one in eight people worldwide, contributing to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.However, many studies have been of insufficient quality. Scientists believe that larger and longer experiments are needed to reach definitive conclusions.
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