How taking a break from dieting could help improve your weight loss

Slimmers can shed more pounds by taking a two-week break from dieting every fortnight, say scientists.

Tuesday, 19th September 2017, 10:17 am
Updated Tuesday, 19th September 2017, 10:30 am
This research could help you if you're struggling with your diet.


Health scientist Professor Nuala Byrne said it combats a phenomenon known as the "famine reaction" - which explains why most diets fail.

For many people it's extremely difficult to stick to a strict diet for more than a few weeks.


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She said: "The intermittent group lost more weight and they kept it off for a longer period of time.

"We certainly think part of the reason this diet is working is because of the rest periods."

The study published in the International Journal for Obesity investigated the body's "famine reaction" to continued dieting and its impact on weight loss in 47 obese men.


Take a break





Dieting difficulty

Prof Byrne continued to say that researchers in the past had shown as dieting continued weight loss became more difficult.


The two-week intermittent diet proved to be a more successful means of weight loss compared with continuous dieting, she confirmed.

