16:8 is a form of daily fasting wherein people eat whatever
they choose for 8 hours and fast for the next 16 hours. A new study published
in the journal Nutrition and Healthy
Aging evaluated this strategy for obese individuals and found that the diet
works and lowers blood pressure.

     The research was
led by Krista Varady, associate professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the
University of Illinois at Chicago. She and colleagues recruited 23 obese study
participants with an average age of 45 and a body mass index of 35. Between
10:00 am and 6:00 pm participants could eat whatever and however much they
liked but were only allowed water and calorie free beverages for the remaining 16
hours.

     The study
proceeded for 12 weeks and the outcomes of the participants were compared with
those from a previous study involving alternate day fasting in which
participants ate as they pleased on one day and fasted on the next day. When
compared to the previous study, the 16:8 participants lost on average 3% more
of their body mass and their systolic blood pressure was lowered by 7 mm of
mercury. The 16:8 fasting method is a viable method for weight loss.