A recent clinical trial presented at the Endocrine Society’s ENDO 2025 conference revealed that intermittent fasting just two days a week—known as the 5:2 diet—may be the most effective dietary approach for managing type 2 diabetes in people with obesity.
Researchers from Zhengzhou University in China compared three popular diet strategies: intermittent energy restriction (5:2 fasting), time-restricted eating (limiting food to a 10-hour window daily), and continuous calorie reduction. While all three methods helped lower blood sugar and supported weight loss, the 5:2 fasting strategy stood out.
Participants on the 5:2 plan experienced significantly better fasting blood glucose, improved insulin sensitivity, and lower triglyceride levels. This group also had the highest adherence rate (85%), suggesting the plan was not only effective but also sustainable.
“These findings offer physicians a practical and evidence-based option to support patients struggling with obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Haohao Zhang, lead researcher of the study.
Although the differences in HbA1c and weight loss between the three groups were not statistically significant, the overall improvements in metabolic health were strongest in the intermittent fasting group.
With similar safety profiles across all diet plans, the study supports intermittent fasting as a simple, powerful, and manageable approach to long-term diabetes care.
You May Also Like
Intermittent Fasting Unveiled: A Dietitian’s Perspective
EU faces pressure to regulate sperm and egg donations
New Study Finds Intermittent Fasting Beats Calorie Counting for Weight Los
