Clinical Research Directory

Intermittent Fasting and Anthropometric Parameters

Sponsor: Masaryk University

Summary

This study examined whether intermittent fasting helps people lose weight and body fat, and whether it affects muscle mass. The researchers compared intermittent fasting with a diet that reduced daily energy intake without limiting meal times. The study included healthy adult volunteers aged over 18 years. Researchers randomly assigned 95 participants to one of three groups. The dietary intervention lasted three weeks, and 75 participants completed it. Participants followed one of these eating plans: Intermittent fasting with reduced energy intake: Participants ate 25% less energy than their estimated daily needs. They ate all their meals within a six-hour period each day. Reduced energy intake without intermittent fasting: Participants ate 25% less energy than their estimated daily needs. They could eat throughout the day without a fixed eating window. Intermittent fasting without reduced energy intake: Participants ate enough energy to meet their estimated daily needs. They ate all their meals within a six-hour period each day. Researchers measured body weight and body composition before and after the intervention. They used a body composition analyzer to estimate body fat, muscle mass, and other body tissues. They also contacted participants weekly to monitor their progress and any problems related to the diet. After three weeks, participants in the first group lost an average of 2.3 kilograms of body weight. Those in the second group lost 2.2 kilograms. The difference between these groups was not statistically significant. Participants in the third group lost an average of 1.1 kilograms, which was significantly less than in the other two groups. All three groups lost some body fat. However, the differences in body fat loss between the groups were not statistically significant. The group combining intermittent fasting with reduced energy intake showed a greater loss of fat-free mass than the group practicing intermittent fasting without reducing energy intake. The results suggest that reducing daily energy intake was more important for short-term weight loss than limiting meal times alone. Longer studies are needed to determine the lasting effects of these eating patterns on body weight and body composition.

Official title: The Influence of Intermittent Fasting on Selected Human Anthropometric Parameters

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