Abstract

Dietary therapy is one of the most important treatments for obesity. In general, it is difficult to maintain the recommended diet for weight control for a long time; therefore, it is difficult to achieve weight loss or maintain weight. Intermittent fasting has recently become one of the most popular diets for weight loss. Intermittent fasting is a strategy of repeating intermittent energy restriction and eating, unlike conventional diets of continuous calorie restriction. Studies on intermittent fasting have shown positive results not only in terms of weight loss but also improvement in metabolic indicators, such as glucose control and reduction of blood pressure. Therefore, it is important to maintain a long-term dietary strategy to prevent weight loss in obese individuals. The effect on weight loss was similar to that of an existing continuous energy-restricted diet. However, long term studies and safety data are still lacking, and large-scale studies with various populations are needed. If more evidence is secured for various individuals, it can be expected that intermittent fasting, including time-restricted eating, will be applied clinically in the future.