Is Intermittent Fasting a Better Option Than Continuous Calorie Restriction?

Authors

Joseph J Cynamon

Abstract

Intermittent fasting has become an increasingly popular diet for weight loss in the United States in the past ten years. Proponents of intermittent fasting claim that restricting calories via a fasting period yields more significant weight loss and better improvements in biomarkers for longevity than restricting calories continuously. The goal of this paper is to determine whether intermittent fasting leads to weight loss and is more beneficial than continuous calorie restriction. The paper first details the physiological processes which can occur during fasting that are theorized to render fasting advantageous. It then reviews the limited available research that experimentally compares intermittent fasting with continuous calorie restriction. Based on the review, it concludes that intermittent fasting is just as effective as continuous calorie restriction in causing weight loss and other health improvements. Intermittent fasting also does not lead to any short-term detrimental effects. There is not enough substantial evidence to assume other than these conclusions. The work also details some risks associated with intermittent fasting. More, higher-quality studies are necessary to confirm the findings of this review.

Recommended Citation

Joseph J Cynamon. (2023). Is Intermittent Fasting a Better Option Than Continuous Calorie Restriction?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 16(2), 71-80. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol16/iss2/12