Intermittent Fasting: Two Serious Drawbacks Discovered## MethodologyI provided a faithful translation of the Russian title into English, maintaining the original meaning and structure while ensuring natural phrasing in the target language.

Scientists debunk the myth: intermittent fasting without calorie reduction is useless for heart health and blood sugar levels

The study involved 31 women with overweight or obesity. For two weeks, participants followed a time-restricted eating regimen. The first group consumed food from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, while the second group ate from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The overall composition and caloric content of the diet in both groups were practically identical.

Under laboratory conditions, blood samples were taken from the women and glucose tolerance tests were conducted to evaluate the characteristics of carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Unlike several previous studies, this research did not reveal significant improvements in insulin sensitivity, glucose levels, blood lipid content, or inflammation markers.

Also, no notable improvements in cardiovascular health indicators were recorded.

According to study co-author Professor Olga Ramich, the positive results documented earlier were most likely associated with an unintentional reduction in dietary caloric intake, rather than with narrowing the time window for food consumption. Therefore, those who aim to lose weight or improve metabolism should pay attention not only to the timing of meals but also to the overall energy value of their diet.