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Journal of Education, Health and Sport

Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review
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  • Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review
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Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review

Authors

  • Zuzanna Lubczyńska Grochowski Hospital im. dr med. Rafała Masztaka Grenadierów 51/59 St., 04-073 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4860-2508
  • Yevheniia Popravko Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1164-1802
  • Mateusz Mirosław Lewandowski Centralny Szpital Kliniczny - Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne WUM Stefana Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4968-1770
  • Grzegorz Bienia Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9036-5510
  • Maja Żołnierek Samodzielny Publiczny Specjalistyczny Szpital Zachodni im. św. Jana Pawła II w Grodzisku Mazowieckim Daleka 11 St., 05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9030-7505
  • Jakub Świętochowski Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne w Gdańsku Dębinki 7, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3848-6520
  • Nikola Siekierko Szpital Praski p.w. Przemienienia Pańskiego Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1113-7112
  • Wiktoria Kotusiewicz Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4033-0648
  • Barbara Jędrzejewska Powiatowe Centrum Zdrowia w Otwocku, Stefana Batorego 44 St., 05-400 Otwock, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2153-4311
  • Maria Kotulska Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Warsaw Wołoska 137 St., 02-507 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9111-6745

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.38.01.005

Keywords

intermittent fasting, alternate day fasting, time-restricted eating, calorie restriction, weight loss, obesity

Abstract

Introduction
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a form of dietary intervention that includes periods of regular calorie intake alternated with periods of fasting. IF has gained a lot of attention as a potential approach to treating metabolic syndrome-related diseases. Therefore, health care professionals need to be able to provide their patients with evidence-based information on IF. The aim of this article is to review data on effectiveness of IF in weight loss, especially in comparison with calorie restriction.

Methods
PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies published from 1.01.2017 to 31.12.2022 that included phrases “intermittent fasting” or “alternate day fasting”, “intermittent fasting obesity”, “alternate day fasting obesity”. Intervention studies on obese or overweight patients were included. We excluded studies of short duration and studies that focused on intercurrent medical conditions. In total, 14 articles that suited those criteria were identified.

Results
Intermittent fasting induces pronounced metabolic changes in the body due to strict and time-limited restriction of calorie intake and in animal models was proved to prolong lifespan and modulate tumorigenesis and aging. It is a proposed new approach to treating obesity, which is a a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Conclusions
In our study, IF was found as effective, but not superior to calorie restriction in reducing body mass, improving body composition and reducing other cardiometabolic risk factors. Our findings are consistent with other recent systematic reviews. Further research is needed to directly compare various IF regimens and determine patients’ characteristics that may be associated with more successful implementation of intermittent fasting regimens.

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2023-06-07

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LUBCZYŃSKA, Zuzanna, POPRAVKO, Yevheniia, LEWANDOWSKI, Mateusz Mirosław, BIENIA, Grzegorz, ŻOŁNIEREK, Maja, ŚWIĘTOCHOWSKI, Jakub, SIEKIERKO, Nikola, KOTUSIEWICZ, Wiktoria, JĘDRZEJEWSKA, Barbara and KOTULSKA, Maria. Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online. 7 June 2023. Vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 64-80. [Accessed 21 May 2025]. DOI 10.12775/JEHS.2023.38.01.005.
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Vol. 38 No. 1 (2023)

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Copyright (c) 2023 Zuzanna Lubczyńska, Yevheniia Popravko, Mateusz Mirosław Lewandowski, Grzegorz Bienia, Maja Żołnierek, Jakub Świętochowski, Nikola Siekierko, Wiktoria Kotusiewicz, Barbara Jędrzejewska; Maria Kotulska

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