NEW YORK, April 2: A new clinical trial suggests that fasting every other day may lead to greater weight loss than simply cutting daily calorie intake.

Participants who followed a 4:3 intermittent fasting plan lost just under 8% of their body weight within a year, while those who reduced their daily calorie intake by approximately 34% experienced a 5% weight loss, according to research published Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine.

In the 4:3 intermittent fasting method, individuals limit their calorie intake to 20% of their normal consumption three days a week, alternating with days where no dietary restrictions are applied.

"Long-term adherence to daily calorie restriction is challenging for many individuals," noted the research team, led by Danielle Ostendorf, an assistant professor of kinesiology, recreation, and sport studies at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. "Our results suggest that 4:3 intermittent fasting offers a viable alternative dietary strategy, potentially leading to modestly superior weight loss compared to daily calorie restriction after 12 months, particularly when combined with a high-intensity, comprehensive behavioral weight-loss program."

For the trial, 84 overweight and obese participants followed the intermittent fasting regimen, while another 81 individuals reduced their daily calorie intake by 34%. Both groups were required to engage in 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week—double the amount recommended by U.S. physical activity guidelines—and participated in a weight-loss program led by a registered dietitian.

At the end of the year-long trial, the fasting group showed a slightly higher average weight loss. Moreover, fasting participants had better success in achieving the type of weight loss that provides significant health benefits. Approximately 38% of those who fasted lost at least 10% of their body weight, compared to just 16% of those who cut calories.

The fasting group also had a higher retention rate, with nearly 30% of those on the calorie restriction plan dropping out, compared to 19% in the fasting group.

Additionally, participants who followed the fasting regimen consumed fewer calories overall and showed improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar.

"Alternative dietary patterns, such as intermittent fasting, are gaining attention due to the challenges of adhering to a daily calorie restriction diet," the researchers noted. "One of the appealing features of intermittent fasting is that participants do not need to count calories or restrict intake every day, unlike with daily calorie restriction. The periodic nature of fasting may also help reduce the constant hunger often associated with daily calorie restrictions."