Intermittent Fasting Sustains Weight Loss for One Year

A 12-week intermittent fasting program helped participants maintain weight loss for at least one year. This finding comes from research involving the University of Granada. The study followed 99 adults who were overweight or obese.

Participants who limited their daily food intake to an eight-hour window maintained more weight loss. This was compared to those who followed a usual eating schedule of 12 hours or longer. The lasting benefits did not depend on whether participants ate earlier or later in the day.

One group ate between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Another group ate between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Both groups maintained significantly more weight loss than the control group. The early fasting group also preserved a larger reduction in fat mass. These results suggest that time-restricted eating may offer long-term benefits.

During the initial 12 weeks, all participants received education on a Mediterranean diet. They were then divided into four groups. The control group maintained their usual eating window. The other three groups followed either an early, late, or self-selected eight-hour eating schedule. Researchers measured body weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass before, immediately after, and one year after the intervention.

Dr. Alba Camacho Cardeñosa, a lead researcher, stated that the study demonstrated sustained changes in body weight. One in three participants continued intermittent fasting on their own during the follow-up year. This suggests the habit is relatively easy to integrate into daily life. The research appeared in *Clinical Nutrition*.