Intermittent fasting is the superstar amongst those who aim to lose weight. From 6/8, 5:2, alternate-day fasting, and 24-hour fasts, there are different kinds of fasts, depending on their potential weight loss effects. But whether this time-restricted eating really helps with weight loss is still the calorie-burning question! A new study has looked into the potential benefits of intermittent fasting and suggests that it could offer even more.
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A study by the researchers from the University of Mississippi suggests that intermittent fasting paired with exercise increases fat loss over the activity alone. The study published in the found that when healthy adults pair an eight-hour eating window with regular exercise, they lose more fat, without sacrificing lean muscle, compared to exercise alone.
“We saw that this did lead to more fat loss and reduced body fat percentage over time when healthy adults were following both exercise with time-restricting eating, compared to those who were only exercising for at least 4 weeks. It is important to note lean mass preservation,” Nadeeja Wijayatunga, assistant professor of nutrition and hospitality management, said in a statement.
Wijayatunga and co-author Michael Hays, a tactical dietitian and recent graduate of the university, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 previous studies on the subject, spanning the past decade. Time-restricted eating is one of many diets included in the umbrella term intermittent fasting.
“People like time-restricted eating because they feel it’s easier to adhere to because they don’t have to think too much. It’s all about time, not calorie-counting or watching out for certain foods,” she said.
The popularity of
intermittent fasting has quickly risen, especially in the United States, with 12% of Americans having tried it, according to the 2023 International Food and Health Survey.
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However, the science surrounding time-restricted eating is still developing, Hays said.
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