As research into weight loss continues, there has been a greater focus not only on the tools for weight loss, but also the behaviours. Some people experience greater success with weight loss programs than others. This can often be pinpointed to specific behaviours.
Background
Alternate-day fasting is a weight-management technique that has gained popularity over recent years. In this diet, participants alternate between a ‘fast day’ of 0-25% of energy needs and a ‘feast day’ of normal eating.
The diet can be very successful, but there was no research that had explored the behaviours that increase likelihood of success. However, previous research had suggested traits and behaviours that may make someone more successful in general weight loss. Some of these include greater self-restraint, higher satiety levels and less hunger during the weight-loss regime.
Researchers designed a study to examine the eating traits of people who were successful at losing weight using alternate-day fasting compared to those who did not lose a significant amount of weight.
The study
This study was conducted on a sub-group of a previous trial examining alternate-day fasting compared to calorie-restriction. Participants took part in a 12 month trial of alternate-day fasting.
Inclusion criteria included age 18-65, a stable weight, BMI between 25-40 and a sedentary or lightly active lifestyle. Some exclusions were diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease and smoking.
For the first 6 months, alternate-day fasters were instructed to consume 25% of their energy needs on their fast days and 125% on the feast days. For the final 6 months, they were to consume 50% of needs on a fast day and 150% on a feast day.
Dietary counselling was received for months 3-6. During this, participants were taught to monitor calories and portion sizes, and encouraged to reduce intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods.
After treatment was complete, they were grouped according to their weight loss. The high-weight-loss group consisted of those who lost at least 5% of their body weight over the 12 months. The low-weight-loss group had lost less than 5% of their body weight.
Researchers then compared the eating behaviours of the two groups in order to identify any differences between those who successfully lost a significant amount of weight and those who didn’t.
The findings
A number of behaviours and traits were significantly different between the groups. The high-weight-loss group was more likely to have increased dietary protein intake and better adherence to the fast-day calorie goals. They consumed around 15-20% of kcal as protein.
They demonstrated increased fullness and decreased hunger compared to the low-weight-loss group. The low-weight-loss group reported consuming a greater excess of calories on their fast days than the high-weight-loss group.
Conclusions
The researchers concluded that individuals who achieve clinically significant weight loss using alternate-day fasting had an increased protein intake and better adherence to their fast-day calorie goals.
Higher satiety levels and less hunger may explain why these participants were able to lose weight successfully using a modified fasting approach. Researchers suggest this may have been supported by their higher protein intake.
References
Kroeger, C. M., Trepanowski, J. F., Klempel, M. C., Barnosky, A., Bhutani, S., Gabel, K., & Varady, K. A. (2018). Eating behavior traits of successful weight losers during 12 months of alternate-day fasting: An exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition and Health, 0260106017753487.