Intermittent Fasting Often Misunderstood as Diet for Rapid Fat Loss, Expert Says
Madrid, Spain – Despite its surging popularity, intermittent fasting is frequently perceived as a quick-fix diet for weight loss when it’s actually simply “one more tool” available for nutritional strategies, according to nutritionist and Doctor of Sports Sciences José Francisco López Gil. Speaking on the Fit Generation Nutrition podcast, López gil clarified that scientific evidence doesn’t definitively prove intermittent fasting is superior to traditional calorie-controlled diets.
The expert explained that studies showing positive effects on fat loss often fail to account for overall caloric intake, raising the question of whether the results stem from the fasting pattern itself or simply reduced calorie consumption. Research comparing intermittent fasting to a standard hypocaloric diet with five meals has not demonstrated a clear advantage for the fasting approach.
While some “specific markers” may show slight improvements in individuals practicing intermittent fasting – such as insulin sensitivity – López Gil cautioned that these improvements could also be attributed to weight loss in general.
He emphasized that intermittent fasting is not a universally beneficial method and is not recommended for certain populations, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Specifically, restricting meals during a child’s growth and advancement phase increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies. while individualized guidance from a nutritionist could possibly make it viable for some children, López Gil stated it should not be promoted as a public health message.
“Normally people see it as a diet” and “use it to loose more fat,” López Gil noted, directly addressing the common misconception surrounding the eating pattern. He reiterated that it’s crucial to understand intermittent fasting isn’t a diet in itself, but rather a potential component within a broader nutritional plan.