The experiment involved men and women aged 29 to 57 years with different body weights and BMI 20-39. The first group adhered to their traditional diet, the participants of the second group observed a 12-hour fast, for which they had to eat breakfast an average of 90 minutes later and dinner 90 minutes earlier. Subjects were regularly checked for blood composition and blood pressure to rule out health problems.
After 10 weeks, the researchers found that the participants in the second group burned twice as much fat as the participants in the first group. Despite the lack of food restrictions, people on the 12-hour fast admitted to eating less during the day due to decreased appetite. They also noted that they now crave snacks less often, especially in the evenings.
Doctors have spoken about the benefits of sensible fasting before, for example, when you can arrange a fasting day once a week, giving up food for 24 hours and leaving only water, green tea or coffee in the diet. Previously, doctors referred exclusively to the fact that this practice has existed for thousands of years. Now this theory may have scientific proof.
At the same time, the head of the research group from the Surrey Institute, Jonathan Johnston, noted that the regime with a 12-hour break in food is not suitable for all people. In the course of the study, the participants in the second group were asked whether their new eating schedule was convenient for them and whether they would adhere to it in the future. 57 percent answered that the new regime is inconvenient for them because it does not fit into the schedule of their family and social life.
For the final conclusions, one study is not enough, but the scientists intend to continue the experiment. In addition to expanding the evidence base, they plan to test whether a fasting regime is possible that would not force people to radically change their life schedules.>