Intermittent Fasting, "Effective for Weight Loss in Obese and Diabetic Patients"

Intermittent Fasting, Calorie Restriction, and Control Group Comparison Results
Clinical Trial Researchers Say, "Easier to Practice and More Effective"

Intermittent fasting (TRE), which involves eating only during specific hours, has been shown to be effective for weight management in patients with obesity and diabetes, according to clinical trial results.

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On the 30th, Christy Baradi and her team at the University of Illinois at Chicago published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's 'JAMA Network Open' that a 6-month clinical trial of intermittent fasting and calorie restriction in diabetic patients showed that intermittent fasting had a greater effect on weight loss.

The researchers randomly assigned 75 obese patients aged 18 to 80 with type 2 diabetes into three groups: an intermittent fasting group restricting eating hours daily from noon to 8 p.m., a calorie restriction (CR) group reducing daily calorie intake by 25%, and a control group with no restrictions. The control group was instructed to maintain their usual eating and exercise habits.

The researchers observed changes in weight, waist circumference, and blood glucose levels over six months.

The average age of participants was 55 years, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 39, and 71% (53 individuals) were female.

The intermittent fasting group adhered to the eating window an average of 6.1 days per week, while 68% of the calorie restriction group maintained their calorie reduction goals over six months.

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Results showed that the average energy intake decreased the most in the intermittent fasting group by 313 kcal per day. The calorie restriction group reduced intake by 197 kcal, and the control group by 16 kcal.

At the six-month mark, the intermittent fasting group experienced an average weight loss of 3.6% compared to the control group, whereas the calorie restriction group lost 1.78%, which was not statistically significant.

However, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels decreased by 0.91% and 0.94% in the intermittent fasting and calorie restriction groups respectively, with no significant difference between the groups compared to the control.

Additionally, no serious adverse effects were reported during the six-month study period for either intervention. The incidence of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia was similar in both groups compared to the control, the researchers added.

Professor Baradi stated, "Physicians often instruct patients to reduce calorie intake first for diabetes management, but patients may find this type of diet difficult to follow. However, the intermittent fasting group was able to reduce calorie intake by eating within a set time window without being told to cut calories."

She continued, "For many people trying to lose weight, counting calories is harder than tracking time. These results suggest that time-restricted eating can be an effective alternative for those who cannot follow traditional weight management diets or are tired of calorie restriction."

However, the researchers noted, "Since this clinical trial was small-scale, larger follow-up studies are needed." They also emphasized, "This study serves as a proof of concept that time-restricted eating is safe for patients with type 2 diabetes, but patients should consult their doctors before starting this regimen."

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