Health
Popular intermittent fasting diets may not deliver the health benefits many expect
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Time-restricted eating has gained popularity in recent years, but a recent study suggests that intermittent fasting — while effective for weight loss — might not live up to the hype in terms of wider benefits.
The small German study found that participants who were placed on two different time-restricted eating schedules lost weight, but experienced no improvement in blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol or other key cardiometabolic markers.
The participants included 31 overweight or obese women. One group ate between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and the other group ate between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. for a two-week period, while maintaining their typical caloric intake, according to a press release.
EATING FOR PLEASURE MAY BOOST HEALTH, SAY EXPERTS — HERE ARE 6 FOODS TO TRY
The findings, which were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggest that the widely touted cardiometabolic benefits of intermittent fasting may be a result of eating fewer calories rather than meal timing, the researchers say.
The participants also showed a shift in their circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles) when they were placed on the time-restricted eating schedules, but the associated health impacts are not known.
A recent study suggests that intermittent fasting — while effective for weight loss — might not live up to the hype in terms of wider benefits. (iStock)
The study did have some limitations. Some researchers have cast doubt on the significance of the study due to its small size.
“It is severely underpowered to detect any difference, considering how gentle the intervention is,” Dr. Dr. Jason Fung, a Canadian physician, author and researcher, told Fox News Digital. He also noted that the participants were fasting for 16 hours a day instead of the normal 12 to 14 hours.
THIS WEIGHT LOSS PLAN PERFORMS BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL DIETING, STUDY FINDS
Lauren Harris-Pincus, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New Jersey, agreed that the findings could be due to the fact that there was no intentional caloric restriction, and reiterated that the sample size is “quite small.”
“As a registered dietitian, I only recommend time-restricted eating when it is carefully planned and shifted earlier within the day,” Harris-Pincus, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
One group in the study ate between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and the other group ate between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. for a two-week period, while maintaining their typical caloric intake. (iStock)
“Only one in 10 Americans consumes the recommended number of fruits and veggies, and 93% miss the mark on fiber goals. Restricting an eating window necessitates more careful meal planning to ensure adequate intake of macro- and micronutrients.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
The expert also cautioned that skipping breakfast to enable a later eating window may result in lower intake of the “nutrients of concern” in the American diet, including calcium, potassium, fiber and vitamin D.
Looking ahead, the researchers said more studies are needed to explore the effects of time-restricted eating over longer time periods. It also remains to be seen how the combination of caloric restriction and time-restricted eating may affect outcomes. Future research could also explore how different populations may respond.
“I only recommend time-restricted eating when it is carefully planned and shifted earlier within the day.”
Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a gut health specialist and celebrity nutritionist in New York, noted that the study didn’t account for critical factors like chronic stress, sleep quality, medications, hormone status and baseline metabolic health.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“All of these can significantly blunt fat loss and cardiometabolic improvements,” Gioffre, who also was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, is naturally highest in the morning, which overlaps with one of the fasting windows studied,” he went on. “If stress is elevated, cortisol alone can block fat burning, disrupt blood sugar regulation, and mask cardiovascular improvements, regardless of calorie intake or eating window.”
Growing research shows intermittent fasting — when done correctly and sustained over time — can improve insulin regulation, reduce inflammation, support fat loss and contribute to better cardiovascular health, an expert said. (iStock)
Gioffre did agree, however, that growing research shows intermittent fasting — when done correctly and sustained over time — can improve insulin regulation, reduce inflammation, support fat loss and contribute to better cardiovascular health.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“These are outcomes that simply cannot be captured in a short, stress-blind study like this,” he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Top stories
→ Health experts react to the Trump administration’s newly revamped food pyramid
→ Deadly superbug spreads across US as drug resistance grows
→ Common pain relievers may raise heart disease and stroke risk, doctors warn
The Trump administration announced on Wednesday the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, putting “real food” back at the center of health. (Chance Yeh/Getty Images for HubSpot; iStock)
On the lookout
→ Flu cases spiked in New York State again this week, sparking warnings from health officials
→ Not all cancers should be treated right away, medical experts say
Conversation starters
→ The shape of your butt is an indicator of key health risks — what does yours say about you?
→ Trending “analog bags” are being touted as replacements for smartphones
Healthy living
→ Experimental vaccine could save thousands of lives per year, scientist claims
→ Little-known prescription pill is helping Americans drink less alcohol
Quote of the week
“This is a big deal.”
→ Elon Musk announced that Neuralink — the brain implant chip that allows users to communicate using their minds — will start “high-volume” production this year, calling the step a “big deal”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Health
‘Weight Loss Has Never Been About Calories’: How This Low-Insulin Diet Helped Lillie, 58, Drop 70 Lbs!
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Big moves are continuing in the weight loss landscape in the new year following breakthrough research of GLP-1 medications and other methods.
Weight-loss experts spoke with Fox News Digital about their predictions for the most major changes to come in 2026.
No. 1: Shift to whole-body treatment
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New York and New Jersey, shared that the most important shift is likely to label GLP-1 drugs as “multi-system metabolic modulators” rather than “simple weight loss drugs.”
MORE AMERICANS MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS OBESE UNDER NEW DEFINITION, STUDY SUGGESTS
“The treatment goal is no longer just BMI reduction, but total cardiometabolic risk mitigation, with effects now documented across the liver, heart, kidneys and vasculature,” he said.
“We are seeing a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events … and progression of renal disease,” he went on.
The focus of GLP-1 drugs will widen beyond weight loss and diabetes, according to experts’ predictions. (iStock)
Philip Rabito, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology, weight loss and wellness in New York City, also shared that “exciting” advancements lie ahead for weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1s and GIPs.
OLDER AMERICANS ARE QUITTING GLP-1 WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS FOR 4 KEY REASONS
“These next‑generation agents, along with novel combinations that include glucagon and amylin agonists, are demonstrating even more impressive weight‑loss outcomes than currently available therapies, with the potential for better tolerability and sustained results,” he told Fox News Digital.
“There is also tremendous optimism around new federal agreements with manufacturers that aim to make these medications more widely accessible and affordable for the broad population of patients who need them most.”
No. 2: More convenient dosing
The typical prescription for a GLP-1 medication is a weekly injection, but delivery and dosing may be changing to more convenient methods in 2026, according to Balazs.
OPRAH JOINS WAVE OF CELEBRITIES WHO REVEALED DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS IN 2025
A daily 25 mg pill version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, a semaglutide designed to treat obesity, is now approved and available for chronic weight management, offering a non-injectable option for some patients.
A once-weekly oral GLP-1 is currently in phase 2 trials, as well as an implant that aims for three to six months of drug delivery, Balazs noted.
Incisionless weight-loss procedures will rise as a lower-risk option, according to experts. (iStock)
No. 3: Less invasive surgery
In addition to decreased risk during surgery for GLP-1 users, Balazs also predicted that metabolic surgery without incision will rise as a better option.
“Incisionless endoscopic procedures — like endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (non-surgical weight-loss procedure that makes the stomach smaller from the inside) and duodenal mucosal resurfacing (non-surgical procedure that resets part of the small intestine to help the body better handle blood sugar) — [may become] more durable and widely available,” he said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“These offer significant metabolic benefits with shorter recovery and lower risk than traditional surgery.”
Rabito agreed that “rapid progress” in minimally invasive weight‑loss procedures is “opening powerful new options for patients who are hesitant to pursue traditional bariatric surgery.”
Bariatric surgery remains the most effective weight loss method, one specialist says. (iStock)
This avenue offers “meaningful and durable weight reduction with less risk, shorter recovery times and no external incisions,” the expert added.
Dr. Muhammad Ghanem, bariatric surgeon at the Orlando Health Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery Institute, reiterated that surgery remains “the most successful modality for the treatment of obesity … with the highest weight loss and most durable outcomes as of yet.”
No. 4: Younger GLP-1 users
As Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy has been indicated for adolescents over 12 years old as an obesity treatment, Balazs commented that pediatric use of weight-loss drugs is “now a clinical reality.”
He predicted that other alternatives are likely to be approved in 2026 for younger users.
No. 5: High-tech, personalized access
Amid the growth of artificial intelligence, Balazs predicted an expansion in the clinical implementation of AI-driven weight-loss methods.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
This could include categorizing obesity into sub-types like “hungry brain,” “emotional hunger” and “slow burn” to personalize how therapy is prescribed while moving away from “trial and error,” he said.
Ghanem agreed that there will likely be a “big focus” on individualized testing for causes of obesity in 2026, as it’s a disease that can have “different causes in different people,” thus requiring different treatments.
AI and other digital opportunities will drive more access for weight-loss patients, experts say. (iStock)
The doctor anticipates that more patients will seek combinations of comprehensive treatments and programs.
“Patients are more aware that now we have a few weapons in our arsenal to combat obesity, and [they] are seeking a multidisciplinary and holistic approach,” Ghanem said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Treatment options will also turn digital with the rise of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for weight loss, Balazs predicted.
“These are software applications delivering cognitive behavioral therapy, personalized nutrition and metabolic coaching through algorithms, often integrated with continuous glucose monitors, and reimbursed as medical treatments,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Ghanem added that body composition analyzers, like DEXA scans, will likely be more widely used as awareness grows about the limitations of BMI and weight in assessing obesity.
Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns
Nutrition experts react to new food pyramid, and more of this week’s biggest health stories
Indiana crushes Oregon to advance to first championship game in program history, stunning sports world
Fox News AI Newsletter: 10 showstopping CES innovations
Newsom’s budget includes $200 million to make up for Trump’s canceled EV rebates, among other climate items
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,416
Trump administration can’t block child care, other program money for 5 states: Judge
AOC accuses Vance of believing ‘American people should be assassinated in the street’
Mercosur: How Macron’s domestic weakness undercut his Brussels clout
-
Detroit, MI6 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology4 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health6 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Iowa3 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Nebraska3 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Nebraska3 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
-
Dallas, TX1 day agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis