New Review Shows Intermittent Fasting Offers Little Weight Loss Benefit Compared to Normal Diets

A new study shows intermittent fasting is not better for weight loss than regular diets. This is different from what many people thought.
By Newsroom | Health, Diet |

New research indicates that intermittent fasting, a popular eating pattern, offers little to no significant advantage for weight loss compared to traditional dieting advice or even no intervention. While it has gained widespread attention for potential health benefits, a comprehensive review suggests its impact on the scale is surprisingly minimal for individuals who are overweight or obese. The findings challenge the perception of intermittent fasting as a unique or superior method for shedding pounds, urging a more nuanced understanding of its effectiveness.

Examining the Evidence: A Comprehensive Review

A recent large-scale review, compiled by the Cochrane Collaboration, has systematically analyzed multiple studies on intermittent fasting to determine its true impact on weight loss. The review examined various forms of intermittent fasting, including:

  • Time-restricted feeding: Eating only within a set number of hours each day.

  • Periodic fasting: Fasting on specific, non-consecutive days.

  • Alternate-day fasting: Alternating between days of normal eating and days of very low calorie intake.

The primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of these intermittent fasting methods against standard dietary advice, which typically focuses on reducing calorie intake and improving food choices, and against a control group receiving no specific intervention.

Read More: Hyderabad Baby Dies After Injection; Doctor Booked for Negligence

The core finding from this extensive review is that intermittent fasting does not appear to produce significantly greater weight loss in overweight or obese adults compared to traditional dietary advice or no intervention at all.

Weight Loss Outcomes: A Comparison

The review's analysis points to a lack of substantial difference in weight reduction between groups practicing intermittent fasting and those following other approaches.

Intermittent Fasting Doesn’t Budge the Scale, Major Review Finds - 1
Comparison GroupObserved Weight Loss Effect of Intermittent Fasting
Traditional Dietary AdviceLittle to no significant difference.
No Intervention ("doing nothing")Similar levels of weight loss.

This suggests that the mechanisms driving weight loss, such as a reduction in overall calorie intake, are not uniquely or more effectively achieved through intermittent fasting strategies alone.

Beyond Weight Loss: Other Health Aspects

While the impact on weight loss appears modest, the review acknowledges that intermittent fasting might offer benefits in other areas of health. Some research hints at potential improvements in certain bodily functions, although more study is required to confirm these effects.

"But they say intermittent fasting could still improve overall health through helpful changes to some body functions, though more evidence is needed." - BBC News

However, evidence regarding significant improvements in quality of life or other metabolic markers like cholesterol and triglycerides compared to traditional diets is not robust. Notably, many studies included in the review did not specifically ask participants about their satisfaction with the intermittent fasting approach.

Read More: Simple Foods for Better Heart Health Explained by Experts in 2025

Expert Interpretation and Nuance

Researchers involved in the review and external commentators emphasize that while intermittent fasting may not be a "magic bullet" for weight loss, it doesn't mean it's entirely ineffective for everyone.

  • Not a Panacea: The findings directly counter the notion that intermittent fasting is a unique or superior solution for weight loss, a claim that has fueled its popularity.

  • Potential for Some: It remains possible that intermittent fasting could serve as a viable long-term strategy for weight maintenance for certain individuals.

  • Behavioral Factors: Some observations suggest that individuals might become less physically active when fasting, and weight loss can be challenging without pharmacological support.

"It doesn’t appear clearly better, but it’s not worse either." - The Guardian, quoting a researcher.

Conclusions and Implications

The comprehensive Cochrane review presents a clear, data-driven perspective on intermittent fasting's role in weight management.

  • Limited Impact on Scale: For overweight and obese adults, intermittent fasting shows minimal to no statistically significant advantage for weight loss when compared to standard dietary advice or a lack of intervention.

  • Further Research Needed: The long-term effects and potential benefits beyond weight loss require more in-depth investigation.

  • Informed Choices: Individuals considering intermittent fasting should be aware that it may not offer a distinct weight loss advantage over more conventional methods.

The findings suggest that while intermittent fasting can be a strategy, it is not demonstrably the best strategy for weight loss based on current evidence.

Sources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the new review find about intermittent fasting for weight loss?
The review found that intermittent fasting does not help overweight or obese adults lose more weight than traditional diets or doing nothing. The difference in weight loss was very small.
Q: How does intermittent fasting compare to regular diets for losing weight?
The review looked at many studies and found that intermittent fasting is not better than regular diets, which usually involve eating fewer calories and healthier foods. Both methods led to similar amounts of weight loss.
Q: Are there any other health benefits to intermittent fasting besides weight loss?
The review said that intermittent fasting might help with other body functions, but more research is needed to be sure. There wasn't strong proof that it improves things like cholesterol or quality of life more than normal diets.
Q: Who is affected by these findings on intermittent fasting?
This review mainly affects overweight and obese adults who are considering intermittent fasting to lose weight. It suggests that it might not be a special or better way to lose weight compared to other common methods.