Intermittent fasting is unlikely to lead to greater weight loss in overweight or obese adults than traditional dietary advice or doing nothing at all, a new Cochrane review finds. International researchers analysed evidence from 22 randomised clinical trials involving 1,995 adults, including some from Australia, and looked at multiple forms of intermittent fasting, such as alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, and time-restricted feeding. Intermittent fasting did not appear to have a clinically meaningful effect on weight loss compared to standard dietary advice or doing nothing. However, an Australian expert has highlighted some limitations of the review.
EXPERT REACTION: Review finds intermittent fasting no better than traditional diets or doing nothing
