A meta‐analysis comparing the effectiveness of alternate day fasting, the 5:2 diet, and time‐restricted eating for weight loss
An erratum to this article was published (Obesity (Silver Spring), May 2025 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
The present meta-analysis concludes that IF is comparable to CER and a promising alternative for weight loss. Among the three regimens, ADF showed the highest effectiveness for weight loss, followed by CER and TRE. Further well-powered RCTs with longer durations of intervention are required to draw solid conclusions.
Study context
- Population
- General population; Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing weight loss and intermittent fasting (IF), searched 2011 to June 2021
- Participants
- 1,768 participants24 RCTs
- Comparison
- Intermittent fasting vs caloric energy restriction
- Outcome
- Weight loss
Methodological detailsrandom effects network analysis, meta-regression
- Random effects network analysis
- Meta-regression
Pooled result
Body weight loss
Mean difference
0.26 kg
95% CI −0.31 to 0.84
P = 0.37
Between IF and CER
mean difference 0.26 kg (95% CI −0.31 to 0.84); P = 0.37
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
Compliance · trials shorter than 3 months
- Compliance generally high in trials <3 months
- >80%
Original publication
A meta‐analysis comparing the effectiveness of alternate day fasting, the 5:2 diet, and time‐restricted eating for weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 8 November 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →