Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates periods of eating with recurring periods of fasting. It specifies when to eat, rather than which foods to eat.

Time-restricted eating: An eating pattern that confines daily food intake to a recurring window of several hours. It is the daily-window form of intermittent fasting.
Ramadan fasting: A religious fast observed by Muslims from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan. It is a culturally rooted recurring fasting schedule with distinct daily timing.
Continuous calorie restriction: A weight-loss approach that reduces daily calorie intake consistently rather than alternating restriction and usual intake. It is a common comparison for testing whether fasting timing adds benefits beyond calorie reduction.
Randomized controlled trial: A study that assigns participants randomly to interventions or comparison groups to estimate causal effects. These trials help separate effects of fasting schedules from differences in participant behavior.
Alternate-day fasting: An eating pattern that alternates fasting days with days of usual or unrestricted eating. It applies fasting on alternating days rather than within each day.
Weight management: The practices and strategies used to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight. Intermittent fasting is used by some people as a structure for reducing energy intake.
Calorie counting: A dietary practice of tracking the energy content of foods and drinks consumed. It regulates intake by quantity rather than by fasting windows.
Systematic review: A structured synthesis of studies addressing a specific research question using explicit methods. Reviews compare results across fasting schedules, populations, and health outcomes.
5:2 diet: An eating pattern with five days of usual eating and two days of substantial calorie restriction each week. It is a weekly schedule that builds recurring fasting or restriction into two days.
Energy restriction: A sustained reduction in calorie intake relative to energy needs. Weight changes from fasting often depend on total energy intake, not timing alone.

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