Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Weight Loss and Maintenance of the Lost Weight in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Long-term continuous caloric restriction (CCR) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing body weight in obese individuals. Adhering to daily CCR proves challenging in practical situations. Recent research suggests that intermittent fasting (IF) could enhance adherence to dietary restrictions. Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of IF interventions in comparison to the conventional CCR on weight loss and the sustenance of lost weight among overweight or obese individuals. Methods: Comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. After removing duplicates, we excluded studies that did not have a randomized controlled design, studies involving animals or individuals under eighteen years, and studies published in languages other than English. The final included studies were 12 randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Results: Among the 12 studies, only one demonstrated a noteworthy reduction in body weight (BW) with the IF protocol compared to CCR. No significant differences were observed in terms of body mass index (BMI) reduction or waist circumference (WC) reduction across the studies. IF exhibited significantly better results of weight loss maintenance (WLM) in only one study. Conclusion: IF and CCR demonstrate similar reductions in BW, BMI, and WC. IF emerges as an appealing alternative to traditional CCR for weight control. WLM remains underexplored and necessitates dedicated RCTs. Larger clinical trials are essential to determine whether certain individuals respond more favorably to IF compared to CCR