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. 2023 Feb;31 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):139-149.
doi: 10.1002/oby.23660. Epub 2022 Dec 27.

Intermittent fasting and protein pacing are superior to caloric restriction for weight and visceral fat loss

Paul J Arciero  1 , Michelle Poe  1 , Alex E Mohr  2 , Stephen J Ives  1 , Autumn Arciero  1 , Karen L Sweazea  2 , Eric Gumpricht  3 , Karen M Arciero  1
Affiliations

Intermittent fasting and protein pacing are superior to caloric restriction for weight and visceral fat loss

Paul J Arciero et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: This study compared intermittent fasting and protein pacing (IF-P) versus a heart-healthy caloric restriction (CR) diet, matched for energy intake and physical activity energy expenditure, on body weight, total and visceral fat mass, and cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults with obesity.

Methods: IF-P (n = 21) and CR (n = 20) were assessed pre- (week 0), mid- (week 5), and post- (week 9) intervention.

Results: Both groups reduced (p < 0.05) weight, total and visceral fat mass, blood pressure and lipids, and desire to eat food and increased proportion of fat-free mass. IF-P resulted in greater (p < 0.05) reductions in weight (-9% vs. -5%), total (-16% vs. -9%) and visceral (-33% vs. -14%) fat mass, and desire to eat (-17% vs. 1%) and increased fat-free mass percent (6% vs. 3%) compared with CR. These improvements were despite similar weekly total energy intake (IF-P, 9470 ± 550 vs. CR, 9095 ± 608 kcal/wk; p = 0.90) and physical activity energy expenditure (IF-P, 300 ± 150 vs. CR, 350 ± 200 kcal/d; p = 0.79).

Conclusions: IF-P and CR optimize weight loss, body composition, cardiometabolic health, and hunger management, with IF-P providing greater benefits.

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Conflict of interest statement

Paul J. Arciero is a scientific advisory board member and consultant for Isagenix International LLC, the study's sponsor, he is an advisory board member of the International Protein Board (iPB), and he receives financial compensation for books and keynote presentations on protein pacing (www.paularciero.com). Eric Gumpricht and Alex E. Mohr are employed by Isagenix International. No authors have financial interests regarding the outcomes of this investigation. The other authors declared no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) flow diagram for the study. CR, heart‐healthy daily caloric restriction; IF‐P, intermittent fasting and protein pacing [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Study timeline for testing during IF‐P vs. CR study. Pre‐testing, week 0; mid‐testing, week 5; post‐testing, week 9. All participants were tested between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. after an overnight fast for body weight and composition assessments (body weight and total body composition via BODPod), plasma biomarkers, and hunger ratings at weeks 0, 5, and 9. At weeks 0 and 9, participants were also assessed for abdominal and visceral fat mass via iDXA and, at weeks 0, 4, and 8, for dietary intake (2‐day food records) and physical activity (accelerometry via ActiGraph). CR, heart‐healthy daily caloric restriction; DXA, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry; IF‐P, intermittent fasting and protein pacing
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(A) Changes in body weight with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. (B) Changes in waist circumference with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. (C) Changes in total body fat mass with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. (D) Changes in abdominal fat mass with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. (E) Changes in visceral fat mass with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. (F) Changes in proportion of lean body mass with IF‐P and CR over 8 weeks. a p.adj <0.05, pre vs. post pairwise differences; b p.adj <0.05, group × time interaction. Data are means ± SE. CR, heart‐healthy daily caloric restriction; IF‐P, intermittent fasting and protein pacing
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References

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