Staying Healthy
Can intermittent fasting help with weight loss?
Here's what the current research says.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Intermittent fasting — the use of a strict eating schedule to help with weight loss — continues to grow in popularity. But can it really help?
"Recent research has found that intermittent fasting has a similar or even modest benefit over traditional calorie-restriction dieting for weight loss," says Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "But perhaps its main advantage is its simplicity, making it easier to follow compared with other weight-loss plans."
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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