Study: Intermittent fasting may offer little difference to weight loss

17 Feb 2026, 13:27 by Muhibat Sulaimon · TheCable Lifestyle

A recent study has suggested that intermittent fasting may offer little or no added benefit for weight loss or overall quality of life among people who are overweight or obese.

The research, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, analysed findings from 22 previous studies involving nearly 2,000 adults across Europe, North America, China, Australia and South America.

It examined whether short term intermittent fasting, lasting up to 12 months, was more effective for weight reduction than conventional dietary advice such as cutting calories and adopting healthier eating habits.

The review found that intermittent fasting produced similar results to standard dieting guidance, with no significant difference in weight loss or quality of life.

It also showed little variation when compared to individuals who received no structured dietary advice, although the impact on quality of life in that group remained uncertain.

According to the findings, participants practising intermittent fasting lost an average of about 3% of their body weight, falling short of the 5% threshold that medical professionals consider clinically meaningful for improving health outcomes.

Luis Garegnani, lead review author from the Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, said while intermittent fasting may be suitable for some individuals, the available research does not support the level of enthusiasm often seen online.

“Intermittent fasting may be a reasonable option for some people, but the current evidence doesn’t justify the enthusiasm we see on social media,” he said.

However, the researchers acknowledged that weight loss approaches are not one size fits all.

Eva Madrid, the senior review author, said healthcare professionals should adopt a case by case approach when advising overweight adults on weight management.

While the researchers said they have a fair level of confidence in their conclusions, they acknowledged certain weaknesses in the available evidence.

Several of the studies included in the review had relatively small participant numbers and lacked strong methodological design, which makes it more difficult to draw firm conclusions about the true effects of intermittent fasting.

The authors also noted that further studies are necessary to examine how intermittent fasting affects other health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes and other pre-existing medical conditions.

They added that intermittent fasting is not a single approach but includes various patterns such as alternate day fasting, the 5:2 plan where individuals restrict intake on two days each week, and time limited eating.

More detailed research is needed to understand how these methods affect men and women differently, as well as people with varying body mass index (BMI) levels and from different regions of the world.

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