Intermittent fasting: The Pros, Cons, and Controversies
Intermittent fasting has become a popular trend in recent years, with many people using it as a method to lose and maintain their weight. Also known as time-restricted eating, intermittent fasting involves restricting your eating window to set times, often eight hours within a 24-hour period, and consuming only clear liquids during the remaining 16 hours. Other methods include fasting for two or three days during a week or month.
Prior research has shown potential benefits to time restriction. A December 2019 review of human and animal studies found that restricting calories to a shortened period of the day might lead to improved longevity, reduced blood pressure, and weight loss. However, it’s important to note that most of these studies were conducted on mice, and the human studies were relatively short in duration, lasting only a few months.
Nevertheless, a recent yearlong study conducted on 139 Chinese adults did not find any significant benefits of intermittent fasting over traditional calorie counting for weight loss or cardiovascular health improvement. The study’s findings have sparked discussions among experts, with some questioning the validity and generalizability of the results.
One study presented this week at a conference of the American Heart Association even suggested that consuming all your food within an eight-hour window or less might be associated with a 91% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to eating over a 12- to 16-hour period. However, it’s important to note that this research is still in the preliminary stage and has not undergone peer review or been published yet.
Experts have expressed skepticism regarding the study’s methodology and limitations. The classification of dietary patterns based on only two days of self
