The effect of modified alternate-day fasting diet on weight loss and CAD risk factors in obese women

Researchers studied 26 obese women for 8 weeks. On fasting days, they ate about one-quarter of their usual calorie needs, then ate normally the next day. The women lost weight and body fat. LDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, a type of blood fat, also fell, while HDL cholesterol, often called good cholesterol, did not change. Blood pressure improved slightly as well.

What this means for you: This suggests alternate-day dieting may help with short-term weight loss and some heart-risk measures. The study was small and brief, and it did not show that this approach works better than ordinary calorie reduction or remains safe and effective long term.