Alternate-day fasting elicits larger changes in fat mass than time-restricted eating in adults without obesity - A randomized clinical trial
Four-week parallel-arm RCT (n=76; 75 completers) in adults BMI 23–30 kg/m² compared alternate-day fasting (ADF), 8-h time-restricted eating (TRE; 12:00–20:00), and controls: ADF produced larger MRI-measured total fat volume loss than both TRE and control, while TRE also beat control on the primary fat-volume endpoint.
Design
- Trial: 4-week, parallel-arm RCT (Feb 2021–May 2022)
- Population: 18–40 y, BMI 23–30 kg/m² (n = 76 randomised; 75 completers)
- Arms: ADF (alternating fasting / ad libitum days), TRE (12:00–20:00 eating window), control (no schedule change)
- Primary: Δ total fat volume (whole-body MRI)
Fat-volume contrasts vs control (abstract means)
- ADF vs control: −1059.8 cm³ (95% CI −1380.0 to −739.6; p < 0.001)
- TRE vs control: −364.0 cm³ (−621.3 to −106.7; p = 0.007)
- ADF vs TRE: −695.7 cm³ (−1013.9 to −377.6; p < 0.001)
Energy intake (secondary signal)
Abstract reports ~34% mean reduction (SD 18%) with ADF, ~15% (SD 21%) with TRE, versus ~3% change in controls—interpret 4-week imaging outcomes next to long-term adherence realities.
Evidence hygiene
Young adult overweight / high-normal cohort; not general proof for all IF branding; do not substitute for HOMA-IR or lipid outcome trials on other registry rows.
Publication
Derron N, Bapst JP, Cayot E, et al. Clin Nutr. 2025 Oct;44(10):4874–4886. PMID 40945487.
Outcomes
- Primary MRI total fat volume vs control: ADF −1059.8 cm³ (95% CI −1380.0 to −739.6; p < 0.001); TRE −364.0 cm³ (−621.3 to −106.7; p = 0.007). ADF vs TRE: −695.7 cm³ (−1013.9 to −377.6; p < 0.001) in n≈76 adults over 4 weeks.