A recent study by the University of Granada shows that combining intermittent fasting with supervised exercise enhances weight loss and physical fitness in individuals with obesity, although it does not significantly affect liver fat compared to standard care.
A collaborative research effort led by the Joint University Institute for Sport and Health (iMUDS) at the University of Granada has provided significant insights into the effects of intermittent fasting and exercise on obesity. The study, part of the TEMPUS project and published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, involved 187 obese adults, approximately half of whom were women. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: standard care, intermittent fasting, supervised exercise, or a combination of fasting and exercise.
Over a 12-week period, all participants received education on the Mediterranean diet and physical activity. Those in the intermittent fasting groups were instructed to confine their meals to an eight-hour window each day, while participants in the exercise groups adhered to a supervised regimen that included both strength training and high-intensity aerobic exercises. The primary objective of the study was to assess whether these interventions led to greater reductions in liver fat and improvements in cardiovascular health compared to standard care.
Findings on Weight Loss and Fitness
The findings revealed that liver fat decreased across all four groups; however, no statistically significant differences were identified among the interventions when compared to the standard care group. Notably, participants who engaged in intermittent fasting—regardless of whether they combined it with exercise—experienced greater weight loss, averaging approximately 2.2 kilograms more than those receiving standard care. Additionally, the combination of fasting and exercise resulted in more substantial reductions in body fat compared to either intervention alone.
Antonio Clavero Jimeno, co-lead author of the study and a predoctoral researcher at the University of Granada, emphasized the importance of the results, stating, “These results allow us to assess the effects of the interventions beyond weight, also taking into account changes in liver fat deposits, as well as total body fat and physical fitness.” This comprehensive assessment underscores the multifaceted benefits of integrating dietary and exercise interventions in obesity management.
Gender-Specific Responses
The study also examined gender-specific responses to the interventions. Among male participants, those who combined fasting with exercise exhibited a more significant reduction in liver fat compared to those receiving standard care. However, this difference was not observed among female participants. Co-lead author Alba Camacho Cardeñosa, a postdoctoral researcher at ibs.GRANADA, cautioned that “for now, these analyses alone do not allow us to conclude that the intervention works differently depending on sex.” This highlights the need for further research to explore potential biological factors influencing the efficacy of these strategies across genders.
Additionally, the study reported a notable outcome for participants diagnosed with fatty liver at the study’s onset. Approximately 30% of those who combined fasting and exercise no longer met the criteria for this condition by the end of the intervention, compared to only 6.5% in the standard care group. This finding suggests that combining dietary and exercise interventions may be particularly beneficial for individuals with metabolic disorders associated with obesity.
Long-Term Implications
Despite the promising short-term results, one year after the program’s conclusion, no significant differences emerged between the groups regarding changes in liver fat. The weight loss and body composition improvements observed at the end of the 12 weeks were no longer evident, emphasizing the necessity for further research into long-term interventions and strategies to sustain the benefits achieved during the program. The transient nature of these benefits raises questions about the sustainability of weight loss and fitness improvements in the absence of ongoing lifestyle modifications.
Research Collaboration and Funding
The study was conducted by the PROFITH CTS-977 research group at the iMUDS of the University of Granada, in collaboration with various institutions, including ibs.GRANADA, San Cecilio University Clinical Hospital (HUCSC), and Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada. The research was also supported by CIBER on Obesity (CIBEROBN) and CIBER on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES). The TEMPUS study (ref. PID2022-141506OB-I00) received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIU), the State Research Agency (AEI), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The implications of this study extend beyond the immediate findings, shedding light on the potential of combining intermittent fasting and exercise as a dual approach to obesity management. As obesity continues to rise globally, understanding effective intervention strategies is crucial for public health. Future research should focus on the durability of the benefits observed and explore additional lifestyle factors that may influence long-term weight management and overall health outcomes.
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