The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: **A New Study Finds 4:3 Intermittent Fasting Outperforms Daily Calorie Counting for Weight Loss** A recent study highlights that a 4:3 model of intermittent fasting—where individuals fast for three nonconsecutive days per week—may be more effective over 12 months for weight loss than traditional daily calorie restriction diets[5][3]. **What Is 4:3 Intermittent Fasting?** The 4:3 intermittent fasting plan requires participants to restrict their calorie intake by about 80% of their daily needs for three nonconsecutive days each week. On the remaining four days, they eat normally but are encouraged to make healthy food choices[5]. **How Does It Compare to Calorie Restriction?** In contrast, the calorie restriction group followed a consistent daily plan, where they aimed to reduce their total caloric intake by 34.3% each day[5][3]. **Study Details and Support** Both diet groups received extensive support throughout the study, including free gym memberships, guidance on calorie counting, specific macronutrient targets, and group-based behavioral support. Everyone was encouraged to exercise for at least 300 minutes per week to promote healthy lifestyle changes[5][3]. **Weight Loss Results After 12 Months** Results showed that participants following the 4:3 intermittent fasting plan lost an average of 7.6% of their body weight over 12 months. This was significantly higher than the 5% average weight loss seen in the daily calorie restriction group[5]. **Success Rates for Meaningful Weight Loss** A greater proportion of intermittent fasting participants—58%—achieved at least 5% weight loss at the end of the study, compared with 47% in the calorie restriction group[3][5]. **Cardiometabolic Health Changes: Still Inconclusive** While weight loss was greater with intermittent fasting, results regarding changes in cardiometabolic risk factors (like cholesterol and blood sugar levels) were not conclusive and lacked precision in the study's findings[5]. **Conclusion: Is Intermittent Fasting the Better Choice?** These results suggest that intermittent fasting on a 4:3 schedule could be a more efficient strategy for weight loss than daily calorie restriction for many people[5][3]. However, the study’s authors note that more research is needed to clarify the potential benefits for overall metabolic health. Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9