Scientists find simple trick to boost weight loss from fasting

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It's a diet trend endorsed by everyone from Hollywood A-listers to Rishi Sunak yet fasting doesn't work for everyone.

Now scientists say they've found a way to boost its effects - a specific type of work out.

Combining high intensity aerobic and resistance exercises with intermittent fasting could help you lose almost 30 per cent more weight, research has suggested.

Obese women who stuck to the strict strategy for 12 weeks lost 11.6kg (25.6lbs) on average.

For comparison, volunteers asked to just adhere to a time-restricted diet, where all daily meals could only be consumed within an 8-hour window, lost 9kg (19.8lbs).

Jennifer Aniston , Chris Pratt and Kourtney Kardashian are among the Hollywood A-listers to have jumped on the trend since it shot to prominence in the early 2010s. But, despite swathes of studies suggesting it works, experts have remained divided over its effectiveness and the potential long term health impacts

Participants who only took part in the exercise regime, which can involve push-ups, burpees and squats, lost 5.4kg (11.9lbs).

One Tunisian academic behind the research said results show combining exercise with dieting has 'the greatest benefits' for both weight loss and heart health.

Dr Rami Maaloul, an expert in sports science at the University of Sfax, said: 'We can highlight in this study that time restricted eating is a good solution to combat obesity, easy to implement since it does not require people to limit their overall food intake or count the total number of daily calories.

'Evidently, changing your diet or becoming physically active are effective weight loss strategies, but combining diet change with exercise has the greatest benefits for cardiometabolic health and weight loss.'

He added: 'Future time restricted eating research should determine which type of exercising is more relevant for improving cardiometabolic health in women with obesity.'

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX - AND WHAT IT MEANS

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height.

For children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight.

Ethnicity can also affect the risk of some health conditions. For example, adults of Asian origin may have a higher risk of health problems at BMI levels below 25.

Standard Formula:

BMI = (weight in pounds / (height in inches x height in inches)) x 703

Metric Formula:

BMI = (weight in kilograms / (height in meters x height in meters))

Measurements:

Under 18.5: Underweight

18.5 - 24.9: Healthy

25 - 29.9: Overweight

30 or greater: Obese

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Jennifer Aniston, Chris Pratt and Kourtney Kardashian are among the Hollywood A-listers to have jumped on the fasting trend since it shot to prominence in the early 2010s.

But, despite swathes of studies suggesting it works, experts remain divided over its effectiveness and the potential long term health impacts.

Some argue that fasters usually end up consuming a relatively large amount of food in one go, meaning they don't cut back on their calories — a known way of beating the bulge.

They even warn that it may raise the risk of strokes, heart attacks or early death.

The researchers analysed data from 64 women, aged 32 and with a BMI of 35, on average.

Twenty four were allocated to the high intensity functional training (HIFT) and time restricted eating group.

Both other groups were formed of 20 participants.

The training sessions, led by instructors, involved eight sets of eight exercises. Each lasted 45 to 55 minutes and volunteers took part three times a week.

Those asked to eat within a 8-hour window only ate between 8am and 4pm and did not need to scale back what they consumed.

The team then compared health markers among the participants, including waist circumference, blood pressure and glucose, cholesterol and lipid and levels.

As well as losing more weight, the combination group also saw the biggest drop in waist circumference, with 10.5cm.

By comparison, intermittent fasting alone recorded a 6.7cm decrease and the HIFT group 7.6cm.

The reduction in total cholesterol and glucose levels was also highest among the combination group, with a drop of 1.5mmol/L and 1.23mmol/L respectively.

The time restricted eating group saw a 0.6mmol/L and 0.96mmol/L fall, while HIFT reported a 0.7mmol/L and 0.75mmol/L drop.

According to the NHS, total cholesterol levels should sit below 5mmol/L.

Glucose, meanwhile, should stand around 4-7 mmol/L before meals and below 9mmol/L when tested two hours after meals.

Writing in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers said: 'Although in our study the time restricted eating group did not impose restrictions on total calorie intake or the macronutrient composition of foods, the weight loss may be related in part to the voluntary reduction in calorie intake.

'It has been reported that individuals who followed this diet often spontaneously reduced their energy intake, resulting in a slight body weight loss.'

However they also acknowledged the study did not account for variations in menstrual cycle and its small sample size.

They also admitted that the diet intake logs submitted by volunteers 'can lead to inaccurate estimates of nutrient intake'.

KNOW YOUR FAST

Rob Hobson, sports and registered nutritionist, explains the different types of fasting.

16/8 method: Fast for 16 hours each day and eat during an eight-hour window, for instance between 8am and 4pm or 10am to 6pm.
5:2 method: Created by Michael Mosely, followers eat normally for five days of the week and reduce calorie intake to about 500 to 600 calories for two non-consecutive days.
Time-restricted eating (TRE): This is similar to the 16/8 method but it can vary in window lengths; for example, 14 hours of fasting and 10 hours of eating, or 20 hours fasting and four hours of eating. The safety and sustainability depend on the length of the eating window and ensuring nutritional needs are met.
24-hour fasts: This involves going 24 hours without eating (known as a full-day fast) once or twice a week. While many can safely manage 24-hour fasts, they can be more challenging and may not be suitable for everyone.
Extended fasts: Fasting for more than 24 hours, up to 48 or 72 hours, should be done under medical supervision, especially for longer durations, due to increased risks of nutrient deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances and other health issues. Rishi Sunak fasts for 36 hours, from Sunday night to Tuesday morning every week.

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