Intermittent fasting has become a popular alternative to calorie tracking and other regimens. Krista Varady, University of Illinois Chicago professor of kinesiology and nutrition, conducted research that are helpful for devotees.
Varady's research show that intermittent fasting is safe and beneficial for weight loss, outperforming calorie-counting without tabulation.
A six-hour window of time-restricted eating helped individuals lose 3% of their body weight and cut 550 calories after 10 weeks, according to a Cell Metabolism research. They also had lower insulin resistance and oxidative stress than controls.
Intermittent fasting was equally successful as calorie-counting diets in another Annals of Internal Medicine research. Over 12 months, individuals who restricted meals to midday to 8 p.m. lost the same amount of weight as those who cut calories by 25%.
Varady's study reveals intermittent fasting can treat obesity, weight-related hormonal issues, and fatty liver disease.
Depending on the intermittent fasting diet, Varady's research show that participants lose 3–8% of their baseline weight.
Given these outcomes, it's no wonder that celebrities like Mark Wahlberg use intermittent fasting to keep healthy.