Intermittent Fasting: A Sustainable Alternative to Calorie Counting for Weight Loss
For the millions of people who have struggled to stick with calorie-counting diets, new research delivers welcome news: intermittent fasting may be just as effective for weight loss — but far easier to maintain mentally.
A major 18-month clinical trial led by Professor Leonie Heilbronn from Adelaide University’s School of Medicine and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, followed more than 200 adults with obesity.
Participants were divided into three groups:
- Intermittent fasting
- Continuous calorie restriction
- Standard dietary advice
The intermittent fasting group consumed just 30% of their daily calorie needs between 8 a.m. and noon on three non-consecutive days per week, followed by a 20-hour fast. On remaining days, they ate normally.
Both dieting groups lost a remarkable 7kg on average within six months. But the critical difference was psychological: those following intermittent fasting reported they did not feel compelled to constantly monitor their food intake or resist overeating — a sharp contrast to the calorie-restriction group, who said keeping weight off required ongoing, conscious effort. Researchers estimate that improved sense of eating control accounted for about 15% of total weight loss in the fasting group.
“Future trials should identify individuals who struggle to improve eating behaviours, as they may do better with intermittent fasting diets, enabling more personalised weight management,” said Professor Heilbronn.
Source: Medical Dialogues – Medical Bulletin July 13, 2026