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Proponents of intermittent fasting contend that this popular way to lose weight is better than conventional dieting. But this type of diet isn't necessarily best for everyone, a top expert says.

Fasting is currently one of the newest diet fads and, while there are studies showing benefits, there are also potential downsides, Dr. Kent Holtorf tells Newsmax Health.

A recent University of Illinois at Chicago study finds intermittent, or alternate-day fasting, was equal in results to calorie counting when it came to weight loss, along with keeping off the excess pounds.

The study, which followed 100 obese people for a year, found that those who engaged in intermittent fasting lost 6 percent of their body weight, while those who ate a calorie-restricted diet lost 5.3 percent, not a statistically significant difference, the researchers say in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Holtorf is the Los Angeles-based medical director of the Holtorf Medical Group and a founder and director of the nonprofit National Academy of Hypothyroidism. He also has appeared as a medical expert on several TV shows, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, and ABC News.

Here are excerpts from his recent interview with Newsmax Health.

Q: What exactly is intermittent fasting?

A: The idea is to intermittently significantly reduce calories in a strategic way to reduce overall caloric intake instead of eating less per day. One common method is called the 5:2 diet, which involves significant caloric restriction two non-consecutive days per week while eating normally the other five days.

Q: How did this type of diet catch on?

A: Several studies were published showing that severe periodic calorie reduction had been shown to have many benefits including changing gene expression and stimulating cell repair, reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, improving cholesterol, lowering the risk of cholesterol levels, reducing heart disease and cancer risk and even extending lifespan.

Q: What do you think of intermittent fasting for weight loss?

A: There is a large amount of research supporting the safety and efficacy of intermittent fasting. If an individual fasts for a designated period of time, weight loss is to be expected as caloric intake has been reduced; however, research finds fasting offers long-term benefits including reduction of inflammation and improvement in mood. For example, a randomized, clinical trial of 71 people who followed intermittent fasting for three months lost an average of 5.7 pounds while the weight of the control group, which didnt alter their eating habits, lost no weight. Those in the fasting group saw a reduction in blood pressure, body fat, and waist size.

Q: What effect does intermittent fasting have on mood?

A: Going without food for 10-16 hours causes the body to release fatty acids known as ketones. According to Mark Mattson, a senior investigator for the National Institute of Aging, who has done extensive investigation on the health benefits of intermittent fasting, ketones have been shown to protect memory and learning function as well as slow disease processes in the brain. Ketones are also shown to boost the bodys formation of particular stress reducing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and GABA, which helps you stay calm under stress and have fewer cravings.

Q: What are the drawbacks of using this type of diet for weight loss?

A: While it can be a way to jumpstart weight loss and have health benefits, studies also show that it can permanently reduce metabolism (calories burned per day). The metabolism may not go back to normal when normal eating is resumed unless steps are taken to prevent or reverse the drop in metabolism. Thus, fasting or so-called yo-yo dieting can contribute to long-term weight gain, wiping out the short-term health benefits of fasting.

Q: Are there any groups for which this may be a particular problem?

A: This is shown to be more of an issue for women because women's bodies appear to perceive fasting as more of a threat of starvation and respond by lowering metabolism to survive the perceived famine. This is especially true if a woman has any signs of low thyroid, including low body temperature, depression, cold intolerance, PMS, cold extremities or suffers with fatigue.

Q: So is there any one best diet out there for everyone?

A: Studies show that most diets are successful short-term but most suffer from equal long-term failure. But thyroid evaluation and optimization, if low, can increase the likelihood of successful weight loss whether via fasting or other diet plan.

2017 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.

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Fasting: Pros and Cons for Weight Loss - Newsmax

Life & Style Weekly

Melissa From 'My 600-lb Life' Looks Totally Different Today See Her Weight Loss! Life & Style Weekly Melissa weighed over 600 pounds on the TLC reality show, and later shocked viewers by losing over 500 pounds following gastric bypass surgery. But, her weight loss journey didn't end with her episode on the reality show, and fans are curious to know ...

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Melissa From 'My 600-lb Life' Looks Totally Different Today See Her Weight Loss! - Life & Style Weekly

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and Americans have increasingly turned to surgery to help them lose weight. Nearly 200,000 people now get bariatric surgery each year. The procedures have improved and evolved over the last decade. Dr. Gustavo E. Bello, a bariatric surgeon for the GBMC Comprehensive Obesity Management Program, discusses the latest in bariatric surgery.

In general, how has bariatric surgery changed in the last decade?

The field of metabolic and bariatric surgery has evolved significantly and continues to do so. Basic science and clinical research, along with new technology, have made weight loss surgery not only a safer strategy to fight obesity, but one that is overwhelmingly better and more efficient than any other. The field continues to expand globally and surgeons now have the ability to complete a much more thorough and specialized training process.

What are the main Bariatric surgeries now performed?

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass are the most commonly performed weight loss surgeries across the board. Together, they account for more than 90 percent of all bariatric surgical procedures. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which sits comfortably in first place, has been around for nearly 14 years. It is a procedure that alters the capacity of the stomach by actually removing around 75 percent of its reservoir and leaving the rest of the anatomy intact. It also reduces the levels of Ghrelin, the so-called "hunger hormone," causing a profound and positive change in the relationship between patients and food. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the second most popular, has been performed for more than 40 years now. It is a well-studied, researched and reliable procedure. It helps patients lose weight and get healthier by reducing the capacity of the stomach, by rearranging the intestinal transit that interferes with the different mechanisms involved with how food gets digested and absorbed and by altering and improving patient's metabolisms. A less used procedure is the the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, where part of the stomach is removed and the remaining portion is connected to the lower part of the small intestine. Doctors also have cut back on the use of gastric bands, or lap bands, when a surgeon places a band around the upper part of your stomach to create a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food

Why is the once popular lap band rarely used anymore?

The adjustable gastric bands that were so popular about a decade ago, have fallen out of favor and are very rapidly fading away. In my opinion, there are actually many reasons why this is happening but the perception that bands are "less invasive" has kept them alive for many years. Compared to other options, a gastric band simply isn't a good and efficient enough procedure to help patients lose weight and get healthier. Also, the majority of patients struggle with poor quality of life and lack of long-term success which has become increasingly notorious lately with the rise and acceptance of sleeve gastrectomy.

Has bariatric surgery become more affordable and are more insurance companies covering it?

No doubt weight loss surgery is now covered widely by virtually every insurance with very few rare and disappointing exceptions. This has given almost every patient affected by obesity access to this great tool and treatment modality. The better understanding of the obesity epidemic and its detrimental effects on overall health have increased awareness and made us more proactive on addressing and treating it. Simplified pathways, better outcomes and shorter hospital stays have significantly lowered the overall cost of surgery and that is not counting all the health care cost savings that come with eliminating obesity.

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?

For many years now, the overwhelming majority of insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, have provided coverage for weight loss surgery to those patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 Kg/m2 or higher and who can demonstrate that they suffer from an obesity-related medical problem, such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, liver disease, among others. This is often waived if the patient's BMI exceeds 40 Kg/m2.

What are the risks and potential complications of bariatric surgery?

Fortunately, bariatric surgery has become extraordinarily safe with extremely low mortality rates that are now comparable to much more commonly performed operations such as gallbladder removal and hip replacement. Of course it is not completely free of possible complications, including bleeding, infection and the exceedingly uncommon, but troublesome, leakage.

What do people have to do to prepare for bariatric surgery?

As good and as efficient weight loss surgery can be in helping patients lose weight and become healthier, it should not be forgotten that, in the end, it is just a great tool that must be used wisely and decisively by the patient to obtain desired results. Preparing well for this life-changing event is of utmost importance. It includes becoming more knowledgeable about nutrition, getting mentally prepared, committing to adopting new and better habits, and finding creative ways to increase physical activity.

What protocols do patients have to follow after surgery for long-term success?

It has been said that long-term success following weight loss surgery occurs in more than 85 percent of cases. Success on definitively eliminating obesity relies first on being well-prepared ahead of time by better understanding the impact that nutrition has in our overall health and being mentally ready to adopt new lifestyle changes. This allows patients to more easily adhere to any post-surgery guidelines and key principles that are necessary to achieve adequate and sustainable weight loss. This begins with following a postoperative diet for a few weeks to allow stomach healing, to then monitoring protein intake to secure adequate nutrition as well as proper hydration, compliance with vitamin intake and the increase of physical activity, among other lifestyle and behavioral changes.

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Bariatric surgery has evolved over time - Baltimore Sun

Weight-loss balloons swallowed rather than surgically inserted in the stomach were shown to be safe and effective in preliminary trials, according to findings unveiled Thursday at a medical conference.

So-called intragastric balloons have been used for decades to help obese patients shed unwanted kilos. Inflated with water, the devices curb hunger and make it easier to diet by inducing a feeling of fullness.

Up to now, however, they could only be implanted in the stomach surgically, a costly procedure requiring general anaesthesia or sedation.

In a small trial led by Roberta Ienca, a researcher in experimental medicine at Sapienza University in Rome, 42 obese patients - 29 men and 13 women - were fitted with balloons that were swallowed in a pill-like form before being inflated with liquid.

A catheter is attached to the balloon, which is folded into a capsule, Ienca explained.

A doctor fills the balloon via the tiny tube, which is then removed via the mouth with a tug. This process takes just a few seconds, she added.

The body-mass index (BMI) of the volunteers varied between 30 and 45. The threshold for obesity is a BMI - ones weight in kilos divided by ones height in centimetres squared - of 30.

The balloons remained in the stomach for 16 weeks, during which time patients were put on a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie diet.

At the end of that time, an internal release valve automatically opens and drains the balloon, which is then excreted.

On average, volunteers shed more than 15kg, which amounted to 31 per cent of excess weight.

No serious side effects were reported.

After the trial, patients were transitioned to a Mediterranean diet, heavy on vegetables and olive oil, and light on protein and starch.

The new technique appears to be a safe and effective weight-loss method, Ienca commented in a statement.

Because the swallowable balloon does not require endoscopy, surgery or anaesthesia, this may make it suitable for a larger population of obese patients not responding to diet or lifestyle treatment.

It could also lead to significant cost savings, she added.

In itself, gastric balloons are not a long-term solution for weight loss, Simon Cork, a researcher in investigative medicine at Imperial College London who was not involved in the study, commented after reviewing the results.

Nevertheless, gastric balloons are still useful for some patients, and the introduction of a device which doesnt require surgery to implant is a positive step forward.

Developed by US-based Allurion Technologies, the system is already marketed in Europe in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Greece. It is also available in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The company intends to begin the FDA approval process in the United States soon, Ienca said.

The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal, which runs through May 20.

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Inflatable weight-loss 'pill' that shrinks stomach helped patients lose average of 15kg - South China Morning Post

FOX31 Denver

New weight loss therapy offered in Colorado FOX31 Denver It does really help people make those behavior changes so that they can have long term weight loss success. Dr. Sullivan said this balloon procedure is different from the liquid filled balloons because there is no surgery or downtime required. There ...

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New weight loss therapy offered in Colorado - FOX31 Denver

Women's Health

5 Weight-Loss Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making Women's Health But while sticking to a g-free diet might help you shed a few pounds at first, it's not a sustainable choice for keeping the weight off. In the long term, it doesn't really teach you anything about the diet, and, in fact, going gluten-free can put you ...

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5 Weight-Loss Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making - Women's Health

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Doctors who specialize in weight loss say people need to view obesity as a disease, not as a reflection of lifestyle, to start to slow the spread of the dangerous condition.

Like other diseases, obesity has an agent food that in the right environment strikes genetically susceptible hosts and makes damaging changes to the way their bodies function, according to authors of a World Obesity Federation paper in the latest edition of journal Obesity Reviews.

The American health care system has not fully embraced that view, said Pittsburgh doctors who specialize in weight loss.

It's a major burden on people's health, on the economy and on society, and I don't think we have enough resources to tackle it, said Dr. George Eid, assistant director of Allegheny Health Network's Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.

More than a third of U.S. adults are obese, according to the National Institutes of Health. The mother of all diseases, as Eid calls it, increases risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, liver and kidney problems, stroke, mental illness and other deadly diseases.

The characterization of obesity as a disease goes back at least 250 years, to when Scottish physiologist Dr. Malcolm Flemyng said it tended to shorten life by obstructing the free exercise of the animal functions, according to the paper. The American Medical Association recognized it as a disease in 2013 and other organizations followed.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services eliminated language saying obesity is not a disease in 2004, but hasn't fully recognized it as a disease, according to the paper. Insurance coverage for FDA-approved weight loss medications remains spotty, doctors said.

Once obesity reaches a certain threshold typically a body-mass index of 30 it changes the body in ways that make it extremely difficult for people to return to a healthy weight, said Dr. Vicki March, medical director of the comprehensive weight loss program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

Long-term studies have shown that obese people reach a set point weight to which their bodies tend to return gradually over time. At a BMI of 30, which would be about 200 pounds for someone who is 5'8, changes in metabolism and hormone production affect caloric needs, March said. People who lose dozens of pounds by limiting their calories to 1,500 per day might never return to eating 2,000 calories per day without regaining weight, she said.

At BMIs of 25 to 30, people can often reach a healthy weight through diet and exercise, she said.

Weight-loss medications, which are indicated for people with a BMI of 27 or higher, can help people lose up to about 15 percent of their body weight, she said. Those with a BMI above 35 often need surgery, she said.

Lynne Erlich, 72, of Robinson Township, tried every diet that came down the pike after she gained weight in her 50s and 60s following a divorce. Erlich, an administrator of liability for Eat'n Park, said she would lose 10 pounds and the weight would return, over and over.

She had high blood pressure and her knees hurt and she worried she would get diabetes. She asked her doctor about gastric bypass surgery, and underwent the operation five years ago. She lost 83 pounds.

Now she feels full after eating less food, she said. She runs up flights of stairs for exercise. She eats better, having made adjustments to her diet such as replacing mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower. She participates in UPMC BodyChangers, a group networking program to support weight loss, and keeps her weight around 140 pounds.

I'm a much happier person, Erlich said.

Jim Delman, 62, of Bridgeport, Ohio, had the surgery after being overweight for most of his life. He graduated high school weighing 185 pounds and at his heaviest weighed about 420 pounds, Delman said.

The weight wore his knee down to the point where it would need to be replaced. He saw a need to change, and he and his wife both decided to try surgery. Dr. Eid performed bariatric surgery on him February of last year, he said. He lost 50 pounds before the surgery and since then has dropped his weight to about 172 pounds.

Now he rarely eats bread, choosing salads and vegetables instead. He drinks water instead of soda or beer. He said he went to the gym every day but one in April.

Doctors' discussions with overweight patients often go no further than telling them they need to lose weight, said Dr. Mark Woodburn, a primary care physician with Pittsburgh-based Genesis Medical Associates.

Of the 86 million Americans estimated to be obese, only about 3 million are treated for it, he said.

Imagine if that was our treatment rate for hypertension; you'd be an awful doc if you were only treating three percent of your hypertension patients, he said.

Each of the doctors said insurers rarely cover weight-loss medications, nor does Medicare.

Highmark Inc. spokeswoman Wendy Morphew said in an email that the insurer covers the drugs for people with severe obesity and in some cases for people with moderate obesity. Employers may choose not to include the drugs in their plans, Morphew said in the email.

UPMC Health Plan spokeswoman Gina Pferdehirt said in a statement that the insurer doesn't cover the drugs, but is considering it.

UPMC Health Plan is collaborating with physicians and our specialists to evaluate new and existing anti-obesity medications to determine what is both safe and effective for our members, Pferdehirt said in the statement.

Woodburn said he took an interest in treating obesity more aggressively after realizing how differently he was treating obesity than hypertension and other weight-related diseases. Now he said he makes a point of setting up follow-up appointments to talk about obesity, refers patients to dietitians and follows obesity treatment guidelines that he said many doctors haven't learned.

Any doctor can incorporate this, he said. You just have to be comfortable bringing it up with patients.

Wes Venteicher is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-380-5676, wventeicher@tribweb.com or via Twitter @wesventeicher.

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Obesity as a disease - Tribune-Review

Dietitians weigh in on alkaline diet...

MISSOULA, Mont. - One of the hottest diets on the internet promises you'll lose weight if you cut down on acidic foods, including animal products and processed foods.

Two Missoula dietitians we talked to about alkaline diets say people may be losing weight on them, but not because of acidity.

Emily Smith is a registered dietitian at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.

"The problem with this diet is that our studies are showing that food rarely, or does not significantly, change the pH of our bodies," said Smith.

Smith, and registered dietitian Denise Zimmer, of Peak Health and Wellness, say the weight participants are losing likely has more to do with eating more whole foods and controlling portions.

They say a well-rounded diet is more successful for long-term weight loss.

"We like to see people make lifestyle changes in just eating healthy, whole foods, unprocessed foods from every food group," said Zimmer.

Dietitians say half your plate should be made up of fruits and vegetables, and you should get a balance of protein, which can include lean meat.

The meat and seafood manager at the Good Food Store in Missoula suggests looking for the terms "prairie-raised" and "grass-finished" on meat labels.

"I would look for what's raised here in Montana. It doesn't have to travel far to be processed and it gets nothing but grass its entire life. It's higher in omega threes, much lower in fats, much lower in saturated fats, and so it's a much healthier product," said Russ Kubisiak.

Dairy products also can offer protein. Zimmer suggests three to four servings a day.

"In the diets that are out there, dairy is one thing they eliminate, when really, studies show people who get adequate dairy are at better weights than those who don't," said Zimmer.

Dietitians do agree with cutting out processed foods, but say you should get a limited amount of whole grains every day.

An average person is recommended to have about six ounces of whole, unprocessed grains every day. This may be less than you think.

Zimmer explains that one half cup of whole grains is one ounce. One slice of bread also is considered to be about one ounce.

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Dietitians weigh in on popular alkaline diet craze - NBC Montana

UW Health cooking class connects... More Headlines

Bariatric surgery is a decision many people dealing with obesity choose to go through, but the transition back to a healthy, normal diet can be challenging.

Dietitians at UW Health saw the need for their weight loss patients to learn nutritious recipes so they created a series of free cooking classes.

"We want to promote the best possible outcome for the patients and as dietitians, our goal is to empower them to make healthier food choices," said Wendy Hahn, UW Health dietitian.

One of those patients who regularly attends the classes is Stephanie Wild, who went through gastro sleeve surgery in February, which removes about 70 percent of the stomach.

"I've struggled with weight my whole life. Nothing was working long term," Wild said.

She said it's been a process getting used the liquid diets and restricted meals.

"It's hard to kind of separate food as pleasure from food as fuel, but you kind of have to learn to do that," Wild said.

Helping make that distinction is what UW Health's cooking class is all about. They start with liquid foods and work their way up to solids.

"Today, we're doing the liquid blender shaker class, featuring protein shakes and different additives. Protein kind of serves as the base of the metabolism for patients to optimize their weight loss," Hahn said.

The class is also a great way to patients to get to know each other and find more support.

"These classes have been great because as we're cooking, we're talking about where we are in our journeys," Wild said.

She's already lost about 80 pounds since her surgery, and is looking forward to getting to her 100 pound goal. She said it will help her get back to a normal lifestyle that she has been missing.

"I can't wait to go on roller coasters this summer. That's something I haven't been able to do in years. I've been out riding my bike, I bought a bike, and I hadn't been on one in eight years," Wild said.

She encourages anyone else struggling with obesity to consider Bariatric surgery as an option.

"It's a really tough road, but the pain of surgery is just temporary. Knowing that you put the work in, the rewards are out there. You can start doing things that you didn't think you were capable of doing anymore," Wild said.

The next series of cooking classes will take place in the fall.

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UW Health cooking class connects weight loss surgery patients - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

RALEIGH, NC--(Marketwired - May 10, 2017) - The Boiled Egg Diet claims rapid weight loss results of up to 24 pounds in just two weeks. Any version of the egg diet is very low calorie, is ketogenic and is high in protein. Carbohydrate consumption (including servings of fruit) is severely limited. Typically, the dieter will consume anywhere between 4-6 eggs per day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A small salad, or another small serving of lean protein usually accompanies each meal.

Essentially, there are a few benefits to egg diets. High-protein diets tend to cause a reduction in appetite (at least in the beginning). This helps one to feel fuller longer and eat fewer calories overall, which normally leads to some weight loss. High protein diets also aid in enhanced protein synthesis, which increases the rate of caloric burn and naturally raises the body's metabolism. Eating eggs for breakfast has also been shown to increase weight loss due the fact that a high-protein breakfast helps one to feel satiated, and less prone to high-calorie snacking and drink consumption throughout the day.

However, there are also downsides to such a restrictive diet. Low-calorie diets cannot be sustained long-term due to their negative impacts on nutrition and energy. Exercise, which is necessary for optimal physical and mental health, is discouraged while on egg diets due to their low-calorie and low-carbohydrate count. Fatigue, irritability and mood swings are common with diets such as these, as is the tendency to binge eat. Overall, eggs are a great addition to any diet, but a comprehensive and healthy approach to nutrition is going to be the surest and safest way to achieve weight loss in both the short and long-term. Diet Doc, an industry leader in weight loss across the U.S., advises that individuals who need to lose weight seek out certified nutritionists and doctors for personalized strategies, rather than one-size-fits-all fad diets. Diet Doc's team assesses all patients via a health assessment profile and customizes each weight loss plan to ensure that patients are on the best possible track for success.

Patients can get started immediately, with materials shipped directly to their home or office. They can also maintain weight loss in the long-term through weekly consultations, customized diet plans, motivational coaches and a powerful prescription program. With Diet Doc, the doctor is only a short phone call away and a fully dedicated team of qualified professionals is available 6 days per week to answer questions, address concerns and support patients.

Getting started with Diet Doc is very simple and affordable. New patients can easily visit https://www.dietdoc.com to quickly complete a health questionnaire and schedule an immediate, free online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

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Diet Doc Reviews The Boiled Egg Diet: Can it Really Help You Lose Weight? - Marketwired (press release)

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