CHICAGO—Obese and overweight people who abide by a modified version of a plan called "alternate-day fasting" may be able to stick to a calorie-restrictive diet while getting an added bonus of improving cardio health, according to new research from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The 10-week trial studied 16 clinically obese people between the ages of 35 and 65 who all weighed more than 210 pounds, had kept their weight stable for the previous three months, and had body mass indexes of between 30 and 39.9. None was diabetic, had a history of cardiovascular disease, was taking weight-loss or lipid- or glucose-lowering medications, or smoked.
The first two weeks, participants ate and exercised normally. Between weeks three and six, participants ate normal meals one day, then would fast the next. On fast days, participants ate the equivalent of a three-course lunch, prepared at UIC's Human Nutritional Research Center that provided between 20 percent and 25 percent of daily energy needs. For the final four weeks, participants were counseled by dietitians on menu options, but essentially chose on their own what to eat, based on what they had learned about meal sizes and food choices.
Weight loss ranged from 10 to 30 pounds. Blood pressure and heart rate were also lowered, along with total cholesterol and circulating fat levels.