Intermittent fasting can cause weight loss in just weeks

Fasting triggers a protein that causes immune cells to make fat cells burn lipids
The approach can prevent obesity with dieters eating normally on non-fast days
Past research reveals fasting reduces abdominal fat, which is linked to cancer
Plus weight loss, fasting improves blood pressure, gut health and brain function
Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario conducted the study

By Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 15:38 BST, 18 October 2017 | Updated: 21:58 BST, 18 October 2017

Intermittent fasting can cause substantial weight loss in just weeks, new research reveals.

Mice who are fed a normal diet for two days followed by 24 hours without food shed pounds after just six weeks, a study found.

Researchers believe fasting triggers a protein that causes white blood cells to stimulate fat cells to burn lipids.

Study author Professor Kyoung-Han Kim from The Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario, said: ‘Intermittent fasting without a reduction in calorie intake can be a preventative and therapeutic approach against obesity and metabolic disorders.’

Previous research reveals fasting reduces abdominal fat, which is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

As well as weight loss, extreme calorie restriction has also been associated with improved blood pressure, gut health and brain function.

Intermittent fasting can cause substantial weight loss in just weeks, new research reveals

SKIPPING BREAKFAST CUTS OUT MORE THAN 300 CALORIES A DAY

Losing weight could be as simple as skipping breakfast, research suggested earlier this month.

Fasting until lunch causes people to eat around 353 fewer calories a day, a study found.

Study author Dr Keith Tolfrey said: ‘There is a common belief that breakfast is the “most important meal of the day”. However, around one third of children and adolescents in many countries skip breakfast regularly.’

The findings from the Universities of Loughborough and Bedfordshire support a growing body of evidence that restricting calories, via fasting, boosts weight loss by reducing people’s calorie intake and regulating hormones involved in fat storage.

How the research was carried out

The researchers exposed mice to 16 weeks of intermittent fasting.

The animals were fed a normal diet for two days, followed by 24 hours with no food.

Intermittent fasting causes weight loss in weeks

Results revealed intermittent fasting causes substantial weight loss after four months.

A further experiment demonstrated the same findings occur after just six weeks of going without food every third day.

Professor Kim said: ‘Intermittent fasting without a reduction in calorie intake can be a preventative and therapeutic approach against obesity and metabolic disorders.’

The researchers believe fasting triggers a protein that causes white blood cells to stimulate fat cells to burn lipids.

They add the effects reverse once mice start eating again.

The findings were published in the journal Cell Research.

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