Effectiveness and safety of intermittent fasting on blood pressure in adults with overweight or obesity: a systematic review
Authors' conclusion
IF significantly lowered SBP and DBP in individuals with overweight or obesity, particularly in high-risk subgroups (obesity, age ≥45 years, and prehypertension/hypertension), with a favorable safety profile. Due to heterogeneity, future trials should standardize IF regimens and target these subgroups to confirm generalizability.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with overweight or obesity
- Participants
- 929 adults15 studies
- Comparison
- Intermittent fasting vs no-intervention control
- Outcome
- Blood pressure (systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP))
Methodological detailsKnapp-Hartung modified random-effects model
- Knapp-Hartung modified random-effects model
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Blood pressure (BP)
Each group vs controlEstimate (95% CI)P value
IF
MD (SBP) −4.43 mmHg(−5.83 to −3.03)
P < 0.001IF
MD (DBP) −2.00 mmHg(−3.23 to −0.78)
P < 0.001Further pooled results
- Intermittent fasting (IF) also improved anthropometric measures, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Triglycerides (TG)
Safety
| Outcome | Estimate | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse effectsIFvs Control | RR (vomiting) 1.11 (95% CI 1.04–1.19) | P = 0.01 | |
| Adverse effectsIFvs Control | RR (irritability) 1.22 (95% CI 1.13–1.31) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Ratio (log scale) |
- Adverse effects — Studies reporting minor adverse effects
- 7
Adverse effects
- Reactions mainly in initial phase and self-resolving
Original publication
Effectiveness and safety of intermittent fasting on blood pressure in adults with overweight or obesity: a systematic review. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 2 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →