Revealed: Experts discover trendy diet loved by millions no better than other weight loss plans
Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz and Mark Wahlberg have jumped on the trend since it shot to prominence in the early 2010s.
It sees dieters cram all their meals into a strict daily time window, or in extreme examples, skip some entirely.
But now, in a major review of data on the diet, a team of international researchers found the benefits from fasting were essentially 'trivial' compared to normal dieting.
Neither eating meals in a specific time window—like in an eight hour period—or doing fasting for five days of the week and then eating normally for two were found to be any better for losing weight.
In fact, alternate day fasting—where people fast for 24 hours on alternate days—was only found to help people lose more weight, with dieters slimming down 2.84lbs (1.29kg) more, on average.
However, this difference didn't meet what the researchers said was the minimum clinical threshold of 4.4lbs (2kg).
But they did say this type of intermittent fasting was found to lower cholesterol levels.
Time restricted fasting, which involves a 16 hour fast followed by an eight-hour eating window, was found to slightly increase cholesterol levels.
No benefit was found for blood sugar levels or 'good' cholesterol levels in any of the fasting diet strategies.
In the study, researchers analysed the results of 99 randomised clinical trials involving 6,582 adults, aged 45 on average, to compare intermittent fasting with calorie reducing diets.
Writing in the BMJ, the scientists said while their data suggested intermittent fasting was better for losing weight than not dieting at all, it didn't stand out compared to a basic calorie-counting diet.
'Minor differences were noted between some intermittent fasting diets and continuous energy restriction, with some benefit for an alternate day fasting strategy with weight loss in shorter duration trials,' they added.
'All intermittent fasting strategies and continuous energy restriction diets showed a reduction in body weight when compared with an ad-libitum diet (allowing yourself to eat at any time).
'Of three intermittent fasting diets alternate day fasting showed benefit in body weight reduction compared with continuous energy restriction.'
Independent experts, not involved in the research, said the findings were unsurprising.
Professor Naveed Sattar, an expert in cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: 'Overall, the results do not surprise as there is nothing magical about intermittent fasting for weight loss—beyond being another way for people to lower their calorie intake.
'Whether it is sustainable over the longer term is worth examining.
'For those who need to lose much more weight, other options are now clearly available.'
Meanwhile, Dr Amanda Avery, an expert in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham, added: 'The pros and cons of intermittent fasting have been debated for some time now.
'This review can hopefully end the debate with the conclusion that if someone chooses intermittent fasting and overall a nutritionally balanced diet is still achieved, then it could be used as one of the options to support weight loss.'
Experts have long been divided over the effectiveness of intermittent fasting as well as its potential long term health impacts.
Some have even warned that it may raise the risk of strokes, heart attacks or early death.
One study earlier this year also suggested intermittent fasting could trigger type two diabetes.
Around two in three adults in the UK are obese or overweight, giving the country one of the highest obesity rates in Europe.
Obesity itself increases the chances of person suffering serious health conditions that can damage the heart, such as high blood pressure.
Last year, a sobering report also suggested Britain's spiralling obesity levels have fuelled a staggering 39 per cent rise in type 2 diabetes among people under 40, with 168,000 Brits now living with the illness.
Piling on the pounds has also been linked to at least 13 types of cancer and is the second biggest cause of the disease in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.
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