Intermittent fasting is popular for shedding extra pounds of weight. There are claims as well of health benefits. But a new research in the reputed journal, Aging Biology refutes these claims. The study states that this type of fasting no doubt leads to weight loss but it does not improve health.
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Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is an uptrend for losing weight. It is a popular diet form. Slimmers adopt it for shedding excessive body fat. The 5:2 type of fasting intermittently is specially popular. The fasting promises weight loss and improved health. It is said that it reduces body inflammation and increases insulin sensitivity.
But a new research in the journal Aging Biology states that duets with this type of fasting do cause weight loss. But there are none of the claimed health benefits with them. If there are some benefits, these are lesser in amount than that expected.
5:2 intermittent fasting diet (Source: YouTube)
Professor Fontana from Translational Metabolic Health at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health says:
“There have been a lot of claims that these diets are associated with other benefits alongside weight loss, including increased health and longevity,”
He added:
“Our randomised clinical trial was designed to test these claims by measuring the effects of intermittent fasting-induced weight loss on inflammatory, metabolic, and molecular pathways of healthy aging.”
The details of the new research
50 recruits in the age group of 30 to 65 were part of the study. They were put into two groups: those fasting intermittently and those on regular diet. At the outset, blood samples were taken to look for markers of inflammation and ageing. This was repeated at six months on the diet and after weight loss.
Weight loss (Source: Health line)
And the inference was that those on intermittent fasting did not have adequate anti-inflammatory response like those on other diets for weight loss. Insulin sensitivity was better in the control group but the difference was not statistically significant.
The claims of health benefits with intermittent fasting was based on animal studies. Fontana revealed:
“Early studies on this diet were done in animal models which showed the same pro-longevity benefits we expect of other calorie restrictive diets,”
“Our research shows this isn’t the same in humans, who do not have the same response to limiting calories on alternate days when associated with usual diets.”
“This study shows that, unlike with chronic daily calorie restriction with optimal nutrition, a similar eight percent weight loss induced by intermittent fasting does not reduce markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein or any other circulating inflammatory cytokine. We also found that intermittent fasting caused a statistically significant but very small improvement in some insulin sensitivity indexes.”
Intermittent fasting lacks health benefits, new research states (Source: Picpedia)
“This is consistent with the results of recent randomised trials of alternate-day fasting showing no improvements in either markers of inflammation or insulin sensitivity.”
Therefore, instead of just looking at calories during weight loss programs, one should also consider the nutrients density of foods. Further, Fontana emphasized:
“While intermittent fasting clearly is a powerful instrument to lose weight, the quality of diet during non-fasting days and the amount of exercise people get are crucial factors in maintaining or improving health and wellbeing,”
“If you want to experience the full benefits of weight loss, it’s not just about the quantities of calories you ingest or when, but what nutrients they come with.”
Intermittent fasting lacks health benefits, new research states (Source: Picpedia)