Intermittent fasting benefits may go beyond weight loss to support brain function

As intermittent fasting, in which people eat only within a fixed and predefined time window, continues to gain popularity, studies show it may have even more benefits than initially thought. One study, published in the medical journal Clinical Nutrition, found that 16:8 intermittent fasting — meaning eight hours in which eating is allowed and 16 hours of fasting — may help not only with weight loss, but also with maintaining the results over time. The study included people ages 30 to 60 who were overweight or obese. For 12 weeks, they ate within an eight-hour window each day, while also receiving guidance on a Mediterranean diet. The results showed that even after one year, weight loss among participants in the intermittent fasting groups was greater than in the control group, even though they were no longer required to follow defined eating hours.