Hoping to lose weight? Intermittent fasting might be worth trying
Intermittent fasting refers to a diet in which people reduce the number of hours they eat in a day. Benefits to this strategy have previously been identified by physicians. After hours without food, the body exhausts its sugar stores and starts burning fat, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
In the U.S., two in five adults are living with obesity, and the condition costs America's healthcare system nearly $173 billion a year. People who are obese have a higher risk of serious chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Now, doctors and researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and other international institutions are adding to prior analysis, finding in a new study that alternate-day fasting also demonstrates greater benefits compared with just curbing calories and other intermittent fasting strategies. Alternate-day fasting means a day-long fast on alternate days.
'Of all forms of intermittent fasting, alternate day fasting — in which a person fasts for a full day, every other day — was most effective,' Harvard said in a statement announcing the findings.
The research was published recently in the journal in The BMJ.
To reach the conclusions, the authors analyzed the health of more than 6,500 adults in 99 clinical trials. Nearly 90 percent were obese and had existing health conditions. The trials ranged in length from between three weeks and just around a year.
All intermittent fasting strategies and may lead to small reductions in body weight compared with a calorie deficit. However, alternate-day fasting demonstrated superior results, resulting in 2.8 pounds greater weight loss compared to traditional calorie-restricted diets in addition to improvements in several other body measurements related to cardiometabolic risk. Those include waist circumference, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and c-reactive protein- an indicator of inflammation.
Alternate-day fasting was tied to lower levels of total and 'bad' cholesterol. Bad cholesterol increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
'However, these differences did not reach the minimally important clinical threshold of at least [4.4 pounds] of weight loss for individuals with obesity, as defined by the study authors,' they noted in a release.
They said that longer duration trials are needed to further substantiate their findings, and that intermittent fasting is not the right dietary choice for everyone, despite its potential effectiveness.
'As with any dietary change, it is important to consult with health care providers and to consider one's medical history, dietary preferences, social environment, and realistic long-term compliance,' Zhila Semnani-Azad, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Nutrition and the study's lead author, noted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
An Ohio couple welcomes a baby boy from a nearly 31-year-old frozen embryo
A baby boy born last week to an Ohio couple developed from an embryo that had been frozen for more than 30 years in what is believed to be the longest storage time before a birth. In what's known as embryo adoption, Linda and Tim Pierce used a handful of embryos donated in 1994 in pursuit of having a child after fighting infertility for years. Their son was born Saturday from an embryo that had been in storage for 11,148 days, which the Pierces' doctor says sets a record. It's a concept that has been around since the 1990s but is gaining attraction as some fertility clinics and advocates, often Christian-centered, oppose discarding leftover embryos because of their belief that life begins at or around conception and that all embryos deserve to be treated like children who need a home. 'I felt all along that these three little hopes, these little embryos, deserved to live just like my daughter did,' said Linda Archerd, 62, who donated her embryos to the Pierces. Just about 2% of births in the U.S. are the result of in vitro fertilization, and an even smaller fraction involve donated embryos. However, medical experts estimate about 1.5 million frozen embryos are currently being stored throughout the country, with many of those in limbo as parents wrestle with what to do with their leftover embryos created in IVF labs. Further complicating the topic is a 2024 Alabama Supreme Court decision that said that frozen embryos have the legal status of children. State leaders have since devised a temporary solution shielding clinics from liability stemming from that ruling, though questions linger about remaining embryos. Archerd says she turned to IVF in 1994. Back then, the ability to freeze, thaw and transfer embryos was making key progress and opening the door for hopeful parents to create more embryos and increase their chances of a successful transfer. She wound up with four embryos and initially hoped to use them all. But after the birth of her daughter, Archerd and her husband divorced, disrupting her timeline for having more children. As the years turned into decades, Archerd said she was wracked with guilt about what to do with the embryos as storage fees continued to rise. Eventually, she found Snowflakes, a division of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, which offers open adoptions to donors that allows people like Archerd. She was also able to set preferences for what families would adopt her embryos. 'I wanted to be a part of this baby's life,' she said. 'And I wanted to know the adopting parents.' The process was tricky, requiring Archerd to contact her initial fertility doctor in Oregon and dig through paper records to get the proper documentation for the donation. The embryos then had to be shipped from Oregon to the Pierces' doctor in Tennessee. The clinic, Rejoice Fertility in Knoxville, refuses to discard frozen embryos and has become known for handling embryos stored in outdated and older containers. Of the three donated embryos the Pierces received from Archerd, one didn't make the thaw. Two were transferred to Lindsey Pierce's womb, but just one successfully implanted. According to Dr. John David Gordon, the transfer of the nearly 31-year-old embryo marks the longest-frozen embryo to result in a live birth. He would know, Gordon says his clinic assisted in the previous record, when Lydia and Timothy Ridgeway were born from embryos frozen for 30 years, or 10,905 days. 'I think that these stories catch the imagination,' Gordon said. 'But I think they also provide a little bit of a cautionary tale to say: Why are these embryos sitting in storage? You know, why do we have this problem?' In a statement, Lindsey and Tim Pierce said the clinic's support was just what they needed. 'We didn't go into this thinking about records — we just wanted to have a baby,' Lindsey Pierce said. For Archerd, the donation process has been an emotional roller coaster. Relief that her embryos finally found a home, sadness it couldn't be with her and a little anxiety about what the future holds next, with possibly meeting the Pierces and the baby in person. 'I'm hoping that they're going to send pictures,' she said, noting that the parents have already sent several after the birth. 'I'd love to meet them some day. That would be a dream come true to meet — meet them and the baby.'
Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
Bain Capital-backed Heartflow eyes $1.32 billion valuation as medtech IPOs rebound
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Medical technology company Heartflow said on Friday it was targeting a valuation of up to $1.32 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, more than three years after its previous attempt to go public fell through. Mountain View, California-based Heartflow is seeking up to $212.5 million by offering 12.5 million shares priced between $15 and $17 apiece. A string of successful high-profile debuts in recent months has injected fresh momentum into the new listings market after a slowdown fueled by tariff-driven turmoil in April. Heartflow's listing also comes amid a nascent rebound in medical technology IPOs after a years-long downturn. Medtech firms Beta Bionics (BBNX.O), opens new tab, Kestra Medical (KMTS.O), opens new tab, Carlsmed (CARL.O), opens new tab and Shoulder Innovations (SI.N), opens new tab have gone public in New York this year. "Heartflow's strong top-line growth and high gross margins position it well for initial investor interest, especially given its similarity to commercialized Beta Bionics and Kestra Medical," IPOX CEO Josef Schuster said. The company expects revenue to be between $42.9 million and $43.4 million for the three months ended June 30, a jump of 38% to 40% from a year earlier. Still, with broader market volatility rising and select deals trading below offer, investors may be cautious beyond the first trading day, Schuster said. Heartflow had earlier looked to go public through a merger with Larry Robbins-backed special purpose acquisition company at a $2.8 billion valuation. Those plans fell apart in 2022. A year later, Heartflow raised $215 million in a funding round led by private investment firm Bain Capital. It is also backed by asset managers Hayfin and Wellington. Founded in 2007 as Cardiovascular Simulation, Heartflow's AI-enabled products help physicians to diagnose and treat heart disease. Heartflow mainly generates revenue on a "pay-per-click" basis each time physicians use its products for diagnosing and managing coronary artery disease. J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Piper Sandler are the lead underwriters. Heartflow will list on the Nasdaq under the symbol "HTFL".
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The crave-curbing shake packed with 23g of protein that's changing the weight loss game – and it's finally on sale: 'It keeps me full for hours!'
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more If you feel like you've tried everything to lose weight and haven't seen results, you might be missing the key secret weapon. Daily Shake is the game-changing, nutrient-loaded shake formulated with all of the vitamins and minerals you need for the day. Not only is it loaded with prebiotics and probiotics to support gut health, but it also contains between 23 and 26 grams of protein to keep you fuller longer. Daily Shake Weight Loss Max Pack It's never been easier to hit your weight loss goals. Join the many who have seen serious results with the delicious Daily Shake! This package includes seven mouth-watering flavors (including chocolate souffle and mango lassi), plus an electric mixer and a 400-milliliter shaker. It has everything that you need to get started with filling, protein-packed, probiotic-rich shakes that contain the vitamins and nutrients you need to thrive. Save 22% Shop There's nothing else like Daily Shake out there. The flavor selection is insanely unique, with options that you just cannot find elsewhere formulated in this way. There are classics like chocolate souffle, vanilla creme, peanut butter, and dulce de leche in the mix, alongside other delicious choices like mango lassi, whipped coffee, and strawberry cheesecake. What will it be? Luckily, you can experiment with all of these. The Daily Shake Weight Loss Max Pack contains four sachets of each flavor, totaling 28 servings to set you on the path to better health. In addition, you'll get a 400-milliliter shaker and an electric mixer — and right now, you can get this $168 bundle for just $132, a savings of 22 percent. It's a great way to commit to your health without sacrificing flavor, treats, or vital nutrients. Daily Shake was specifically formulated to meet your body's needs during your weight loss journey. Packed with satiating protein and fiber, it revs up your metabolism to help you burn fat more efficiently. The beauty of the system is that it delivers precisely what your body needs to stay strong and vibrant even when you're shedding pounds. It's far too easy to fall into the trap of deprivation and miss out on vital nutrients in the process, but Daily Shake fills in the gaps. Not only does it fill you up and keep your digestive system moving smoothly, but it also has zinc and vitamin C to support your hair, skin, and nail health. The shakes contain absolutely no added sugar, and they're completely lactose- and gluten-free so virtually anyone can enjoy them. It doesn't hurt that they taste so good, either. 'I absolutely love the flavors!' exclaimed one shopper. 'My cravings have subsided quite a bit and it's definitely because of how Daily Shake works well with my stomach. Mango lassi and match are my go-tos!' 'I love the Daily Shake,' raved another. 'I have a really busy schedule because of which I often skip meals. But this is such a good way of drinking on the go in between meetings. It really keeps me full for 3-4 hours!' A third agreed, sharing: 'These shakes are SO filling and I love that they are genuinely nutritious with great quality ingredients.' Whether it's snacking in between meals that derails your efforts or you're simply ready to take a new approach and finally crush those goals, Daily Shake can help you get there. Don't miss this opportunity to save on this handy kit that contains everything you need!
