This is a review article on the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) compared to a usual diet or calorie restriction (CER) on various health outcomes. Here are the main findings:

Benefits of IF over usual diet and CER:

• Significantly decreases body weight (BW) and fat mass (FM)
• Significant improvements in lipid profiles, including lower triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)
• Minor effects on blood pressure (SBP and DBP)
• No significant effects on fasting blood glucose (FBG) or insulin resistance
• Consistently ranks above usual diet and CER in surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) analysis

Specific benefits of intermittent fasting:

• Alternate-Day Fasting (ADF): decreases BW, FM, TB, and SBP
• Time-Restricted Feeding (TRE): decreases BW, FC, BWC, and SBP
• 5:2 Diet: decreases TC, LDL-C, and FBG

Unresolved concerns and limitations:

• Limited studies available for certain treatment comparisons
• Baseline BMI, age, gender, and duration of intervention can affect treatment effects
• Potential negative effects on glycemic parameters in some populations (not significant for all IF forms)

Overall, the review suggests that intermittent fasting is a viable weight loss strategy with benefits in lipid profiles and minor blood pressure changes. However, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects, especially regarding glycemic parameters.

Key takeaways:

1. Intermittent fasting may be effective for weight loss and improving lipid profiles.
2. Benefits of IF compared to usual diet are generally consistent across studies.
3. While some outcomes show no difference between IF and CER or a usual diet, others do suggest benefits with certain forms of IF (e.g., ADF, TRE).