A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in Dallas, January 20, 2023, suggests that low calorie consumption may be more effective for weight loss than starvation.
Three major health systems (Johns Hopkins Health System, Niger Health System and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) studied 547 men and women for six months on weight trends, normal diet, and sleep/meal duration.
These weight trends were compared with weight and height recorded during past clinic visits (up to 10 years before being part of the research).
Food intake was divided into three groups: the first group was high (more than 1000 calories), the second group was medium (between 500 and 1000 calories) and the third group was low (less than 500 calories).
The study found that the average number of high and medium foods was the cause of weight gain, which concluded that overall consumption of calories is an important cause of weight gain. On the contrary, the number of foods in small amounts was the reason for weight loss over time.
According to the research, the interval between the first and last meals was not related to weight change. For the participants in the study, this interval was an average of 11 hours.
For the purposes of this research, the researchers described starvation as a routine of eating in limited times. Doing so helped the researchers compare weight trends between sleep and meal times.
Dr. D. Zhao, the lead author of the study, said that this research does not support the long-term strategy of weight loss as a factor, but excessive food loss can be more effective in weight loss, but clinical trials are needed to confirm the results of the research.
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