Intermittent fasting is the act of refraining from eating for specific periods of time in order to accomplish a number of different goals, whether it be weight loss, overall health or detoxing. But although it’s been a very popular method for accomplishing these things, ongoing research is still constantly being done to determine its efficacy. 

Is intermittent fasting as effective as people think? This was the aim of a new study.

Recently, scientists conducted a study to compare intermittent fasting versus continuous energy intake at 100% or 70% of requirements. This was done to determine insulin sensitivity, cardiometabolic risks, body weight and composition. Women deemed overweight were broken up into groups and placed on one of four diets for eight weeks. The intermittent fasting groups did not eat for 24 hours after breakfast three nonconsecutive days of the eight weeks. All meals were selected to have 35% fat, 15% protein and 50% carbohydrate.

Insulin sensitivity, weight, body composition, and plasma markers were assessed following a feed day, a 12 hour fast and a 24 hour fast for intermittent fasters. When matched with the right foods, intermittent fasting reduced weight and fat mass and improved total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol than the control group. Intermittent fasting did not improve health compared with other groups even though there was modest weight loss when prescribed in energy balance.