The Science Behind Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss

From TikTok and Instagram influencers to celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Kourtney Kardashian, intermittent fasting has gotten a lot of hype.

The diet restricts what time you eat rather than what or how much you eat.

The idea is that short periods of fasting cause your body to burn through stored fat reserves.

But is that conventional wisdom true?

And can it really contribute to weight loss?

A recent literature review, conducted by an international team of scientists, says: not really!

After looking at 22 smaller studies comparing intermittent fasting both to traditional dietary advice and to doing nothing, the researchers concluded that intermittent fasting had little to no effect when it came to weight loss.

So before you decide to miss a meal or two, think about whether that skip is supported by science.

Also, consult your doctor if you have one.