A recent study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology in February 2025 examined the impact of the popular 5:2 intermittent fasting diet on weight loss and cardiovascular health. The systematic review and meta-analysis, led by Wu et al., investigated whether the 5:2 diet could help individuals with overweight or obesity reduce weight and improve risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
The researchers conducted a comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through a database search across PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase. Studies included in the analysis spanned from the databases’ inception until April 2024. The analysis involved 1,393 participants, split into 689 participants following the 5:2 diet (treatment group) and 704 participants in the control group. The researchers used statistical tools including RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 for meta-analysis.
Key Findings
The results of the meta-analysis revealed several positive effects of the 5:2 diet on participants with overweight or obesity. Specifically, it led to reductions in:
- Body weight
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Waist circumference
- Body fat percentage
- Hip circumference
- Fat mass
- Fat-free mass
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
- Systolic blood pressure
- Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance levels
These reductions were statistically significant when compared to the control group, with a p-value of less than 0.05.
However, the diet had no significant effect on other cardiovascular and metabolic health markers, including:
- Visceral fat
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
- Diastolic blood pressure
- Insulin levels
- Fasting blood glucose
- Glycated hemoglobin A1c
- Heart rate
Safety and Side Effects
While the study found no serious adverse events related to the 5:2 diet, participants did report mild physical and psychological side effects during fasting periods. These effects were temporary and resolved on their own without the need for medical intervention.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet may be an effective strategy for weight loss and improving certain cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with overweight or obesity. However, the researchers emphasized the importance of individualized adjustments and monitoring during fasting periods to ensure optimal outcomes and address any potential side effects.
In summary, the 5:2 diet may offer promising benefits for weight management and cardiovascular health, particularly when tailored to the needs of each individual.
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