4:3 Intermittent Fasting Shows Promise for Weight Loss: What Thai Readers Should Know
A year-long study from researchers at the University of Colorado finds that the 4:3 intermittent fasting plan can outperform daily calorie restriction for weight loss. For Thai readers, the results highlight a potential alternative approach to healthy living amid rising obesity.
In this 165-participant trial, adults aged 18 to 60 who were overweight or obese were split into two groups. One followed the 4:3 pattern—eat normally four days a week and restrict calories by 80 percent for three days. The other group reduced daily intake by about 34 percent. After a year, those practicing intermittent fasting lost about 7.6 percent of body weight (roughly 7.7 kilograms or 17 pounds) versus a 5 percent loss (about 4.8 kilograms or 11 pounds) in the daily-calorie group. Research by the study team shows modest improvements in blood pressure for both groups, suggesting health benefits beyond weight loss.