Adherence and dietary composition during intermittent vs. continuous calorie restriction: follow-up data from a randomized controlled trial in adults with overweight or obesity

Although intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) has become popular as an alternative weight loss strategy to continuous calorie restriction (CCR), there is insufficient evidence on diet quality during ICR and on its feasibility over longer time periods. Thus, we compared dietary composition and adhe...

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Main Authors: Pannen, Sarah T. (Author) , Maldonado, Sandra González (Author) , Nonnenmacher, Tobias (Author) , Sowah, Solomon A. (Author) , Gruner, Laura F. (Author) , Watzinger, Cora (Author) , Nischwitz, Karin (Author) , Ulrich, Cornelia M. (Author) , Kaaks, Rudolf (Author) , Schübel, Ruth (Author) , Grafetstätter, Mirja (Author) , Kühn, Tilman (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 5 April 2021
In: Nutrients
Year: 2021, Volume: 13, Issue: 4, Pages: 1-15
ISSN:2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu13041195
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041195
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1195
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Author Notes:Sarah T. Pannen, Sandra González Maldonado, Tobias Nonnenmacher, Solomon A. Sowah, Laura F. Gruner, Cora Watzinger, Karin Nischwitz, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Rudolf Kaaks, Ruth Schübel, Mirja Grafetstätter and Tilman Kühn
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Summary:Although intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) has become popular as an alternative weight loss strategy to continuous calorie restriction (CCR), there is insufficient evidence on diet quality during ICR and on its feasibility over longer time periods. Thus, we compared dietary composition and adherence between ICR and CCR in a follow-up analysis of a randomized trial. A total of 98 participants with overweight or obesity [BMI (kg/m2) 25-39.9, 35-65 years, 49% females] were randomly assigned to ICR, operationalized as a “5:2 diet” (energy intake: ~100% on five non-restricted (NR) days, ~25% on two restricted (R) days), or CCR (daily energy intake: ~80%). The trial included a 12-week (wk) intervention phase, and follow-up assessments at wk24, wk50 and wk102. Apart from a higher proportion of energy intake from protein with ICR vs. CCR during the intervention (wk2: p < 0.001; wk12: p = 0.002), there were no significant differences with respect to changes in dietary composition over time between the groups, while overall adherence to the interventions appeared to be good. No significant difference between ICR and CCR regarding weight change at wk102 was observed (p = 0.63). However, self-reported adherence was worse for ICR than CCR, with 71.1% vs. 32.5% of the participants reporting not to or only rarely have followed the regimen to which they were assigned between wk50 and wk102. These results indicate that within a weight management setting, ICR and CCR were equivalent in achieving modest weight loss over two years while affecting dietary composition in a comparable manner.
Item Description:Gesehen am 25.05.2021
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu13041195