PubHawk
Obesity (Silver Spring) September 2016 PMID 27569118

A randomized pilot study comparing zero-calorie alternate-day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with obesity.

Victoria A Catenacci, Zhaoxing Pan, Danielle Ostendorf, Sarah Brannon, Wendolyn S Gozansky, Mark P Mattson, Bronwen Martin, Paul S MacLean, Edward L Melanson, William Troy Donahoo

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Mentions

68
Peak: 2 in Jun 2021
across 5 sources since Nov 2016

Extended reach

134,848
potential audience

Total likes

26

Video views

956

Mentions per month

Nov 2016 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News33 articles
  • Facebook17 posts
  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • Blogs6 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The posts reflect a predominantly positive reception, emphasizing the safety and muscle-preserving aspects of the fasting method, with users citing scientific mechanisms and personal experiences to deepen the discussion. Words like 'healthy,' 'not waste muscle,' and references to scientific concepts illustrate their engagement and interest, while some comments remain neutral or suggest looking at detailed tables, indicating moderate impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the study’s conclusion that alternate-day fasting is safe and effective for weight loss, with some agreeing on its muscle-sparing benefits.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high engagement, referencing specific findings such as muscle preservation and body composition changes, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Multiple comments analyze the study’s implications, share personal opinions, and reference scientific concepts like ketosis and protein intake, showing moderate depth.

ImpactNeutral impact

The discussions mainly support the safety and efficacy of the fasting approach but do not suggest it is game-changing or universally impactful yet, leading to a neutral impact score.

Abstract in brief

  • A pilot study compared zero-calorie alternate-day fasting (ADF) to daily caloric restriction (CR) in adults with obesity, focusing on safety, tolerability, and effects on weight, body composition, lipids, and insulin sensitivity over 8 and 24 weeks.
  • The study found that ADF was safe and well-tolerated, with no adverse effects, and resulted in a greater energy deficit, but there were no significant differences between ADF and CR in weight loss or changes in body composition, lipids, and insulin sensitivity after 8 weeks; similarly, there were no significant differences in weight regain after 24 weeks, although fat and lean mass changes favored ADF.
  • Overall, ADF is a safe and acceptable weight loss method that produces similar health benefits compared to daily caloric restriction and does not increase the risk of weight regain in the longer term.
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Marc Lobliner - IFBB Pro
@MarcLobliner · X

..in the feeding period, fasting can be healthy and not waste muscle. I recommend 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight daily based on the @IntSocietySN stance. https://t.co/bKFHl46eyi 2/3

Jun 6, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 105,349 followers View post →
Alex Williams
@Alex_Williams95 · X

@AmandaZZ100 https://t.co/ViHW5XiOKV Table 4 may be helpful?

Jan 24, 2019 · 2 likes · 587 followers View post →
Khan
@TheKunwarKhan · X

A randomized pilot study comparing zero‐calorie alternate‐day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with obesity https://t.co/Vc64LfhDvf

Nov 24, 2020 · 1 like · 3,590 followers View post →
مصلح عبدالرحمن
@aber1437 · X

@AAlshehriMD (لا يوجد دليل علمي)! طيب ما رأيك في هذه الأبحاث العلمية التي تتكلم عن فائدته لإنقاص الوزن؟! https://t.co/bacQ4rVX6Z https://t.co/UloFg8WH2c https://t.co/y5NC0Jk8s3 https://t.co/Z88iBMIqel https://t.co/PfimPccmWp هل ثمة مشكلة في هذه الأبحاث وأمثالها أم أنك لم تطلع عليها؟!!

Apr 18, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 176 followers View post →
真面目（ちょい良）
@choiyoshi1986 · X

ファスティングでそんなにカタぼることはないんじゃなかったっけ A randomized pilot study comparing zero-calorie alternate-day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with o… https://t.co/FxaiYPLxP7

Jun 15, 2023 · 14,846 followers View post →
Amanda ZZ - Atkins
@AmandaZZ100 · X

@SkyZer0_ @The_Nutrivore @ChristianTams @erandaw1 @StreetSmartRD @BritTexan @FastingMethod @drjasonfung https://t.co/f7TNRp3VQF Oh look ADF casued less lean body mass too - which might explain my 99% lean body mass %ile ( by DEXA scan)

Oct 3, 2020 · 4,726 followers View post →

All mentions

مصلح عبدالرحمن
@aber1437 · X

RT @aber1437: @AAlshehriMD (لا يوجد دليل علمي)! طيب ما رأيك في هذه الأبحاث العلمية التي تتكلم عن فائدته لإنقاص الوزن؟! https://t.co/bacQ4rV…

Apr 18, 2025 · 1 share · 176 followers View post →
مصلح عبدالرحمن
@aber1437 · X

@AAlshehriMD (لا يوجد دليل علمي)! طيب ما رأيك في هذه الأبحاث العلمية التي تتكلم عن فائدته لإنقاص الوزن؟! https://t.co/bacQ4rVX6Z https://t.co/UloFg8WH2c https://t.co/y5NC0Jk8s3 https://t.co/Z88iBMIqel https://t.co/PfimPccmWp هل ثمة مشكلة في هذه الأبحاث وأمثالها أم أنك لم تطلع عليها؟!!

Apr 18, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 176 followers View post →
真面目（ちょい良）
@choiyoshi1986 · X

ファスティングでそんなにカタぼることはないんじゃなかったっけ A randomized pilot study comparing zero-calorie alternate-day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with o… https://t.co/FxaiYPLxP7

Jun 15, 2023 · 14,846 followers View post →
tokatti
@tokatti_ · X

日替わり断食が圧勝 理由 結果的に総摂取カロリーが減ったのが大きい。記録を見ると日替わり断食グループは低カロリー食よりも1日平均にして376kcalぐらい食事の量が減っていた 代謝はどっちも同じぐらい下がった 日替わり断食は食欲のコントロールがしやすい https://t.co/AfhjWOcGxz #自分用メモ

Jan 24, 2022 · 189 followers View post →
Solomon
@SnafuBlogspot · X

RT @MarcLobliner: ..in the feeding period, fasting can be healthy and not waste muscle. I recommend 1 gram of protein per pound of bodywe…

Jun 6, 2021 · 1 share · 1,192 followers View post →
Marc Lobliner - IFBB Pro
@MarcLobliner · X

..in the feeding period, fasting can be healthy and not waste muscle. I recommend 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight daily based on the @IntSocietySN stance. https://t.co/bKFHl46eyi 2/3

Jun 6, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 105,349 followers View post →
Khan
@TheKunwarKhan · X

A randomized pilot study comparing zero‐calorie alternate‐day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with obesity https://t.co/Vc64LfhDvf

Nov 24, 2020 · 1 like · 3,590 followers View post →
Amanda ZZ - Atkins
@AmandaZZ100 · X

@SkyZer0_ @The_Nutrivore @ChristianTams @erandaw1 @StreetSmartRD @BritTexan @FastingMethod @drjasonfung https://t.co/f7TNRp3VQF Oh look ADF casued less lean body mass too - which might explain my 99% lean body mass %ile ( by DEXA scan)

Oct 3, 2020 · 4,726 followers View post →
Jagatjit
@MeijinJJ · X

@ianuragsaxena You lose muscle because you can't tap into fat storage no? Fasting pushes you into ketosis making you burn fat. And Fasting is muscle sparing... 4 time better at preventing muscle loss compared to calorie restriction. https://t.co/HbkyYOm5Rr

May 25, 2020 · 3,054 followers View post →
Alex Williams
@Alex_Williams95 · X

@AmandaZZ100 https://t.co/ViHW5XiOKV Table 4 may be helpful?

Jan 24, 2019 · 2 likes · 587 followers View post →