Intermittent fasting can lead to muscle loss
Intermittent fasting has gained immense popularity over the past few years. However, a recent study on intermittent fasting might compel you to think twice before you decide to follow the diet. The study claims that it may make you lose muscle mass.
The Study
A recent study conducted by the
University of California, San Francisco found that intermittent fasting
alone is not more beneficial than any regular eating pattern and the
diet can result in significant amount of muscle loss.
For the study, the researchers compared two groups of participants - one who ate a regular diet (three meals a day) and snack and the other who had limited calorie intake which was restricted between noon and 8 pm.
At the end of the 12-week study, the researchers found out that both the groups showed no major difference in terms of weight loss, fat mass, blood sugar control and cholesterol levels. In short, it was found that Intermittent fasting did not actually improve metabolic health or weight loss.
It was observed that intermittent fasting group lost slightly more weight but it also brought to light a slightly more troubling problem.
Around 65 per cent of the total weight loss among the participants in the intermittent fasting group comprised of muscle mass. This is much more than how much muscle mass one may lose on a regular calorie-restricted diet, which would be around 20-30 per cent.
The people involved in the study were not instructed to maintain a specific calorie diet, macros or exercise routine. They were just asked to fit all their calorie intake in an 8-hour window, which provided them with no specific benefits as compared to the group that did not follow such a drastic measure.
Verdict
Before
you decide to take such strict measures to lose extra kilos, keep in
mind that you might change what and how much you eat to reap the
benefits of fasting and prevent muscle loss.