As obesity rates and documented connections to poor health continue to rise, there is a growing interest in an eating pattern known as time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting (IF). One of its most popular forms is the 16:8 diet, where one eats during an 8-hour window each day and fasts for the other 16 hours. This approach does not require special foods or calorie counting and easily fits into one’s lifestyle, granting patients independence. Studies have shown that this method leads to significant weight loss and offers optimism for those seeking effective weight management strategies. But is it for everyone? Is fasting the whole picture?
Early weight loss studies focused on clients with obesity but not conditions such as metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions like abnormalities in waist circumference, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure- all leading to heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Prediabetes is defined as mildly increased blood sugar levels, also leading to serious issues.
A recent study looked at obese patients around 59 years old with both metabolic syndrome and prediabetes. Subjects ate during a 14-hour period, and their body weight, blood glucose, and other metabolic factors were measured. Intermittent fasting significantly improved hemoglobin A1C levels, accompanied by weight and abdominal size reductions. The weight changes were primarily due to decreased fat volume and a loss of muscle mass.
The short-term results were promising.
However, the longer-term National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) found that those who practiced 16:8 intermittent fasting were more likely to die from heart disease. The same study reported that those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease following the 16:8 diet had a higher risk of dying from a stroke. Lastly, there was no reduction in death from any cause using intermittent fasting. These findings suggest that while intermittent fasting may lead to short-term weight loss, it may pose long-term metabolic health risks, particularly for those with common pre-existing heart conditions.
This data is not just informative, it is empowering. It equips our patients with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health, well-being, and weight loss techniques. These studies show that good short-term outcomes do not always predict positive long-term impacts. Our providers follow rigorous evidence-based medical principles to benefit clients and their desires for improved health.
Additionally, a decreased lean muscle mass is associated with increased risks for heart attacks and strokes. Your caregivers at Wellness Home Chicago-Halsted manage this by increasing your healthy protein ingestion and providing physical therapy sessions, all to encourage fat loss with no reductions in muscle volume. Our multi-disciplinary programs ensure that weight loss is primarily fat, not muscle.
Metabolic syndrome and obesity are markers, tipping points that lead to severe chronic problems like diabetes and heart disease. There is an urgent need for more effective lifestyle interventions that go beyond medicines and are affordable, accessible, and sustainable. Intermittent fasting can be a part of the program but must be monitored. Controlling the processes that result in obesity leads to healthier, happier lives for the average person. We at the Wellness Home are meeting that need by inspiring hope and motivation. Make an appointment to have your blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney disease, and now, peripheral artery diseases diagnosed, controlled, and managed.
