Intermittent fasting is better than calorie counting for those struggling to lose weight and keep it off: study

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between specific periods of eating and fasting (ET India)

The University of Adelaide study focuses on Psychological aspects of both intermittent fasting and calorie restrictionIt compared the effects of both diets on eating behaviour, mood, sleep and quality of life. Although both diets resulted in similar amounts of weight loss, they… Those who followed the fasting diet did not feel that they needed to make major changes to their eating behaviors, such as monitoring overeating or counting calories, to lose weight.

This contrasts with calorie restriction, where participants reported having to consciously consider restricting their food intake and avoiding overeating. This improved control was responsible for 15% of the weight loss.

Professor Leonie Heilbron, from the University of Adelaide School of Medicine and the South Australian Institute of Health and Medical Research in Australia, said: “While many diets can lead to weight loss, they can be difficult to stick to, and this makes maintaining that weight in the long term more difficult.” “The results of our study suggest that intermittent fasting could provide an alternative path for people who have difficulty following a traditional diet.”

More than 200 people with obesity participated in the 18-month trialwhich saw participants divided into three diet groups:

• intermittent fasting,
• Continuous calorie restriction and
• Standard care

The intermittent fasting group was required to consume 30% of their energy needs between 8 am and 12 noon on three non-consecutive days each week, followed by a 20-hour fast. On non-fasting days, they were able to eat their usual diet. People on a calorie-restricted diet were limited to 70% of their usual diet, while the remaining participants followed a standard diet but were given healthy eating guidelines.

What did they find?

Participants on both calorie-restricted diets and intermittent fasting I lost about 7 kg in six monthsCompared to only 2 kg lost by those following the standard diet. They also reported Improve levels of depression and well-being…even on fasting days.

The results were published in the journal Clinical nutritionhe suggests Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting may lead to weight loss through different psychological and behavioral pathways. “Psychological and behavioral influences have a significant impact on people’s ability to adhere to diets. Intermittent fasting It might help people Achieving weight loss through methods that rely less on consciously restricting food intakeProfessor Heilbronn said.

While intermittent fasting is becoming increasingly popular, relatively little is known about its long-term psychological and behavioral effects compared to standard diet methods. Professor Heilbronn said: “Future trials should be designed to identify individuals who struggle to improve eating behaviours, as they may do better with intermittent dieting, allowing for more personalized weight management.” (via University of Adelaide)

(Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Seek the advice of your doctor or dietitian before starting a new diet plan.)

source:

https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(26)00113-5/fulltext

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