Comparative Effects of 16:8 Intermittent Fasting and Continuous Caloric Restriction on Metabolic Syndrome Components in obese Women: A Non-randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

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Published Aug 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i8.5777
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Vol. 103 No. 8 (2025): Tunis Med Aug 2025

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Nesrine Dhieb
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Rym Ben Othman
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology of Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis el Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2453-9778
Inchirah Karmous
Research Unit on Obesity UR18ES01, Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, 15 Rue Jebel Lakhdar, Beb Saadoun, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
Ramla Mizouri
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Meriem Nouira
Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
Awatef Kacem
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Amel Gamoudi
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Wafa Douiri
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Nadia Ben Mansour
Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
Henda Jamoussi
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia.

Abstract

Introduction: Intermittent fasting (IF) is gaining interest as an effective method to combat obesity


Objective : to compare the effects of 16:8 intermittent fasting (IF 16:8) and continuous caloric restriction (CCR) on anthropometric parameters and components of metabolic syndrome in obese women.


Methods : A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with obese women followed for three months. The patients were divided into two groups: IF (45 patients) and CCR (55 patients), each undergoing a 25% reduction in caloric intake. Anthropometric parameters, body composition and metabolic profile were evaluated.


Results : The average age was 34.10 ± 8.44 years in the IF group and 34.62 ± 8.80 years in the CCR group, with BMI values of 38.63 ± 5.15 kg/m² and 34.84 ± 6.69 kg/m², respectively. Both groups experienced significant weight loss after three months, with the IF group showing greater weight change (-7.38 ± 4.1 kg vs. -5.41 ± 3.84 kg, p=0.03). Fat mass and waist circumference reductions were more pronounced in the IF group (p=0.04 and p=0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, IF was more effective than CCR in reducing blood glucose (p=0.04) and triglyceride levels (p=0.02) and increasing HDL-cholesterol (p=0.01). The early feeding window (8h to 16h) in the IF group was associated with greater reductions in weight, fat mass, waist circumference and HOMA insulin resistance index (p=0.001 for all) compared to the 12h to 20h window.


Conclusion : The study suggests that 16:8 intermittent fasting could be a viable alternative to continuous ...(abstract truncated at 250 words).

Keywords:

obesity , intermittent fasting, low-calorie diet , weight

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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