Effects of four weeks of alternate day fasting in young healthy-weight to obese men

• Main Author: Kang, Natasha Quien Hwee
• Other Authors: Yang Yifan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Science::Biological sciences::Human anatomy and physiology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78958
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background: The relationship between obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes are stronger in young adulthood, alongside the likelihood of disease onset. With Singapore’s rates of these diseases greater than most of South East Asia, prevention in young adults should be looked into. Aims: Determine the effects of four weeks of alternate day fasting (ADF) on body weight (BW), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), percentage body fat (%BF), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG); investigate weekly changes in SBP, DBP, and FBG. Hypotheses: BW, FM, and %BF will differ significantly from pre- to post-intervention; FM will not differ significantly from pre- to post-intervention; and there is a significant effect of ADF duration on SBP, DBP, and FBG. Methods: 26 young overweight/obese men underwent four weeks of ADF. Body weight, FM, FFM, %BF, SBP, DBP, and FBG were measured pre-post-intervention. SBP, DBP, and FBG were also measured weekly. Results: Body weight, FM, FFM, %BF, and FBG decreased significantly. There was a significant effect of ADF duration on FBG. No significant decrease or effect of ADF duration on SBP and DBP was found. Conclusion: Four weeks of ADF was sufficient to significantly reduce markers of obesity, CVD, and diabetes. FFM was also significantly decreased. The decreases in SBP and DBP still reduce risk of CVD and diabetes. ADF can be used to lower CVD and diabetes risk in overweight/obese individuals in Singapore. Keywords: alternate day fasting, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, young men