Time-Restricted Fasting May Ease Weight Loss Without Heavy Calorie Counting

An 18‑month University of Adelaide trial with over 200 adults with obesity found that time‑restricted intermittent fasting (30% of energy on three nonconsecutive days, 8 am–12 pm, plus a 20‑hour fast) produced roughly the same weight loss as continuous calorie restriction (about 7 kg in six months), while feeling less restrictive than counting calories. Standard care yielded about 2 kg. The fasting group also reported mood and wellbeing improvements, suggesting IF may help people who struggle with traditional dieting, though long‑term effects require more research to identify who benefits most.