Intermittent fasting may cause muscle loss more than weight loss, study says - Fox News

INTERMITTENT FASTING SHEDS MORE WEIGHT, BUT MEDITERRANEAN STILL HEALTHIER OVERALL, STUDY CLAIMS.

After observing weight loss results from 116 adults who were considered “overweight” or “obese,” it was determined that intermittent fasting didn’t yield “significantly different” outcomes from people who ate their meals at typical intervals.

Proponents of the diet have made claims that intermittent fasting is a superior weight loss method or can contribute to a longer life, but researchers at UCSF and UHCC found that some of the participants who practiced the diet experienced a significant amount of lean muscle loss.

“Loss of lean mass during weight loss typically accounts for 20% to 30% of total weight loss,” the study stated.

“The proportion of lean mass loss in this study (approximately 65%) far exceeds the normal range of 20% to 30% ...

Finally, the extent of lean mass loss during weight loss has been positively correlated with weight regain.”.

Overall, those who practiced intermittent fasting throughout the study lost half a pound more than those who did not restrict their eating times.

“Time-restricted eating, in the absence of other interventions, is not more effective in weight loss than eating throughout the day,” the study concluded.

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