Intermittent fasting for adults with overweight or obesity
Abstract
RATIONALE
Weight loss remains the primary strategy for reducing health risks and societal consequences associated with overweight and obesity. The most common dietary interventions are calorie-restricted diets, including various permutations of energy restriction, macronutrients, foods, and dietary intake patterns, which achieve initial but often unsustained weight loss. Intermittent fasting involves eating patterns during which individuals take little or no energy for extended time periods, alternated with periods of normal food intake. The mechanism for weight loss is related to caloric restriction, increased fat metabolism, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and improved glucose metabolism. Intermittent fasting has been publicised in blogs and news articles but studies show inconsistent effects on health, highlighting the uncertainty faced by physicians and people with overweight or obesity when considering intermittent fasting as a feasible approach for sustained weight loss.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the benefits and harms of intermittent fasting versus regular dietary advice, no intervention or waiting list for adults with overweight or obesity.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE (Ovid), and two trials registers up to 5 November 2024, as well as reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs that compared intermittent fasting…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,430 participants or records.
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