There are several ways to fast. Some people fast for several days in a row. Others follow the so-called 5:2 diet, eating normally five days a week and consuming very few calories on the remaining two. Another approach is time-restricted fasting, known as the 16:8 method, where all meals are eaten within an eight-hour window and fasting continues for the rest of the day.
Researchers at the Cochrane Institute have now investigated whether fasting helps with weight loss.
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The researchers reviewed studies involving people who were overweight or obese and who followed intermittent fasting, diets based on standard dietary advice, or no diet at all.
They found 22 international studies with a total of 2,000 participants.
The findings were discouraging for anyone who believes fasting is a miracle cure.
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Participants lost just as much weight on diets based on standard dietary advice as they did with fasting.
There was also no difference in weight loss between those who fasted and those who followed no diet at all.
