If you have spent enough time trying to get in shape over the age of 40, then you know how hard it is to lose weight once you hit middle age. According to WebMD, “your metabolism tends to decelerate by about 5% for every decade of life past age 40,” and while results vary because human biology is complex, the overall premise of your metabolism slowing down as you age is true for all humans.
By the time people hit 40, they have to try harder when it comes to losing weight, and that is particularly true when it comes to nutrition. Many nutritional strategies exist, including intermittent fasting and adhering to a daily calorie deficit diet.
Researchers at Colorado University recently conducted a study comparing a 4:3 intermittent fasting diet to a daily calorie deficit diet, and the results were both surprising and insightful. The results of the study were published in the academic journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
“Comparing intermittent fasting with traditional daily calorie restriction, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found greater weight loss among the intermittent fasting group, a significant finding given that most previous studies reported no notable difference between the two diet strategies.” Colorado University staff stated.
“Singling out the 4:3 plan of the popular intermittent fasting (IMF) model – where dieters eat freely four days a week with three days a week of intense calorie restriction – the researchers found an average body weight loss of 7.6% among IMF participants at the one-year mark compared with 5% in the daily caloric restriction (DCR) group.” the University concluded.
Regardless of which nutrition strategy you choose, you will want to couple it with resistance training and boosting protein intake to build muscle, along with performing regular cardio to help ‘burn the calorie candle at both ends.’ Make sure to regularly check our nutrition category on this website, which is populated on an ongoing basis.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this article and this website are not meant to substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer. This content is provided as an educational tool to help people on their fitness journeys. While we strive to research topics as much as possible and provide useful and accurate information to the best of our abilities, we also strongly recommend talking to your doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer before starting any workout, therapeutic, or nutritional regimen, as each individual’s needs and situations vary depending on the person.