Is intermittent fasting really effective?
Time-Restricted Eating (TRE), known as intermittent fasting, is a topic of debate within the academic community. Fasting periods range from at least 14 hours to 16 hours, 18 hours, and 20 hours. The most common method is the 16:8 fasting approach, where food intake is limited to an 8-hour window each day.
Recent studies published in China and the UK have yielded conflicting results. When comparing the normal eating group and the time-restricted eating group, there were mixed findings regarding significant differences in weight loss, blood pressure, and body fat. Looking more closely, the actual weight loss from time-restricted eating appears to result from a reduction in food intake due to limited eating hours. Ultimately, if one binge eats or indulges in selective eating within the restricted eating window, there is a risk of nutritional imbalance and the yo-yo effect.