The Effects Of Intermittent Fasting On Body Fat Composition: A Clinical Trial Nutritional Science And Metabolism

Abstract

Introduction: This clinical Trial, investigated the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on body fat composition, with the aim to contribute valuable insights to the existing knowledge in nutritional science and body fat metabolism. Intermittent fasting, characterized by cycles of eating and fasting, has gained prominence as a potential strategy for weight management and metabolic health.

Method: This study has been carried out as clinical trial via its Trial Registry No. NCT05521945 randomized controlled trial was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, total of 90 participants, with 30 recruited from each of the three groups on regular diet, customized diet, and IF group with a follow-up period of 12 weeks.

Results: This study has explored the efficacy of intermittent fasting about body fat percentage (BFP). Our findings revealed a significant divergence in the IF-BFP association between males and females, suggesting that BMI cut-off values may not suffice for identifying overweight conditions in the healthcare sector contexts. We observed that body mass index has limited discriminatory power between fat and lean mass, with body fat percentage offering superior insights into body composition compared to BMI. Maintaining a healthy body fat level is crucial for optimal human physiological functioning.

Conclusion: This study revealed that IF helps improve participants' body fat percentage with physical activity, and healthy dietary habits. This study synthesizes findings to comprehensively analyse the impact of intermittent fasting protocols on body fat composition.