Researchers from Malaga have determined that fasting is more effective than a low-calorie diet.

The team's research shows that alternating-day fasting and late-night restriction are more effective than low-calorie diets in the short term.

Researchers in Malaga have identified that alternative fasting is more effective than conventional low-calorie diets

A study from the group found that a modified alternative to fasting and time-restricted exercise was more effective in the short term than a low-calorie diet.

A new study by Francisco J. Panahndar, the chief scientist of Ibima Bained in obesity, diabetes and their drivers: prevention and new strategies and strategies to fight the crisis.

Published in the prestigious medical journal BMC, the work suggests that some other diets, such as the ketogenic diet, modified by alternate days of fasting or restricted eating time - can be significantly more effective for short-term weight loss than the traditional Mediterranean diet, always under strict calorie control.

Obesity is a global disease that is estimated to affect approximately 50% of the world's population between 2030 and 2035. This condition is closely related to an increase in cardiovascular, metabolic and other chronic diseases.Although the Mediterranean diet continues to be one of the most recommended due to its healthy profile, current conditions require new, stronger and more effective nutritional strategies.

To answer this challenge, the team conducted a three-month randomized clinical trial involving 160 adults with severe pain.This is one of the first studies that directly compares, under controlled conditions, the impact of different types of hypocaloric diet: the classic hypocaloric diet (3-4 meals a day distributed and balanced in the immediate beginning), the ketogenic diet (very high contribution of carbohydrates), early restricted feeding (no lunch) and late (lunch and change of intake) on the second day.

Paradigm Shift in Weight Loss

The results of the study suggest changes in dietary strategies for the treatment of obesityIn fact, those who followed a ketogenic diet, alternate-day fasting, or time-restricted eating lost significantly more weight than those who followed a classical gainful diet, which served as a control group.It should be noted that all the fasting groups and the classic beneficial diet had a diet based on the Mediterranean diet.The eating pattern is followed

Specifically, the groups that lost the most weight were the ketogenic diet participants, who lost an average of 11.9 kilograms in three months, which is 3.78 kilograms more than the classic low-calorie diet group.Similarly, the intermittent fasting group changed 3.14 kg more than the control group.

However, all dietary interventions were effective, as even the group that followed the classic low-calorie diet lost an average of 8.4 kg.

Beyond body weight, the study also evaluated effects on body composition.All diets induced a decrease in fat mass, but modified alternate-day fasting and late-intake time-restricted eating stood out as approaches to reducing body fat, with modified alternate-day fasting significantly reducing caloric intake on alternate days of normal eating, showing the greatest effect.

Regarding safety, no serious adverse events were reported in the trial, supporting the feasibility of applying these interventions in a controlled manner in the short term.These data open the door to further personalization of dietary strategies against obesity, based on evidence and tailored to each patient's profile and preferences.

Towards personalized nutrition

"These findings are extremely promising and give us new tools in the fight against obesity," Tinahones said.

For her part, the co-director of the study, Isabelle Moreno-Andías, emphasized the "importance of medical and nutritional monitoring in the case of any dietary change, as well as the need to carry out long-term studies that allow evaluating the durability and safety of these interventions."