Fasting · 6 cited studies

Research on Fasting

Intermittent fasting research has accumulated faster than the cultural conversation. Patterson & Sears' 2017 review summarised the early case: TRE and 5:2 produce weight loss comparable to continuous calorie restriction. The TREAT trial (Lowe 2020, JAMA Internal Medicine) tempered enthusiasm: 16:8 produced no greater weight loss than three-meal eating, and lean-mass loss was higher. Liu 2022 (NEJM) extended this to a year-long Chinese RCT — TRE + calorie restriction was equivalent to calorie restriction alone. Sutton's 6-hour early-TRE study did show metabolic benefits without weight loss in prediabetic men, suggesting timing may matter independent of restriction. The honest summary: fasting is a behavioural tool that helps some people eat less, not a metabolic switch. Below: the major fasting trials and reviews.