WeeklySA_AdminRESTRICTIVE: Intermittent fasting could help people lose weight without the constant mental burden of counting calories, offering a more sustainable path for those who struggle with traditional dieting, a major study suggests…
By Own Correspondent
People battling obesity and the frustration of repeated weight-loss failures may find new hope in intermittent fasting, according to research from the University of Adelaide in Australia.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, found that intermittent fasting can deliver weight-loss results comparable to traditional calorie-restricted diets while requiring less conscious effort to control eating habits.
Researchers examined not only weight-loss outcomes but also the psychological effects of dieting, including eating behaviours, mood, sleep quality and overall well-being.
The 18-month trial involved more than 200 adults living with obesity. Participants were divided into three groups: an intermittent fasting group, a continuous calorie-restriction group and a standard-care group that received healthy eating advice.
Those following the intermittent fasting programme consumed just 30% of their daily energy requirements between 8am and noon on three non-consecutive days each week, followed by a 20-hour fasting period. On non-fasting days, participants ate normally.
The calorie-restriction group, meanwhile, reduced their food intake to 70% of their usual consumption every day.
After six months, participants in both the intermittent fasting and calorie-restriction groups had lost an average of about seven kilograms. By comparison, those in the standard-care group lost only about two kilograms.
However, the study revealed an important difference in how the weight loss was achieved.
Participants following calorie-restricted diets reported having to actively monitor their eating habits, resist overeating and consciously restrict food intake. Researchers found that these behavioural changes accounted for approximately 15% of their weight loss.
In contrast, people on the intermittent fasting plan achieved similar results without feeling the need to constantly track calories or regulate their eating behaviours.
Lead researcher Professor Leonie Heilbronn of Adelaide University’s School of Medicine and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute said the findings could provide a valuable alternative for people who struggle with conventional diets.
“While many diets can result in weight loss, they may be difficult to stick to, and this makes keeping that weight off long term more challenging,” Heilbronn said.
The study also found that participants in both dieting groups experienced improvements in well-being and reductions in symptoms of depression, even on fasting days.
Researchers believe the findings highlight the importance of understanding the psychological factors that influence dieting success.
“Psychological and behavioural effects have a major influence on people’s abilities to adhere to diets,” Heilbronn said. “Intermittent fasting may help people achieve weight loss through ways that are less dependent on consciously restricting intake.”
With intermittent fasting gaining popularity worldwide, the researchers say more work is needed to understand its long-term benefits and identify which individuals are most likely to succeed with the approach.
The findings point toward a future in which weight-management programmes can be tailored to individual needs, helping people choose strategies that best match their eating habits, psychology and lifestyle.
