A new study has linked intermittent fasting to an increased risk of heart-related deaths.
The research suggests that limiting eating times to just eight hours a day could lead to a 91% increase in the risk of death from heart disease.
The study, presented at a medical meeting and drawing data from about 20,000 adults, raises significant concerns about the safety of intermittent fasting—a dieting method that has gained popularity worldwide as a weight loss strategy.
The findings are particularly surprising because previous studies have suggested potential health benefits associated with the practice.
The American Heart Association, which published only an abstract of the study, has caused scientists to question study’s protocol details.
Keith Frayn, emeritus professor of human metabolism at the University of Oxford, emphasized the need for long-term studies on the effects of intermittent fasting. “This work is very important,” he said, “but the abstract leaves many questions unanswered.”
The study, led by Victor Zhong of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, analyzed questionnaire responses and death data from 2003 through 2019.
However, because it relied on patients recalling what they ate over two days, there is room for potential inaccuracies.
The research comes at a time when lifestyle interventions for weight loss are under scrutiny, especially with the emergence of new drugs that help people shed pounds such as Ozempic.
The study’s findings could influence future dietary recommendations and the approach to weight loss strategies.
