Pilot Study on the Impact of the Mediterranean Diet and Intermittent Fasting
Body Weight Changes
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Body Weight Changes
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Aged 18-70 yrs BMI 25-39.9kg/m2, Able to attend university for measurement and educational sessions.
Exclusion Criteria:
Cardiovascular problems or documented history of CVD including: angina; myocardial infarction; coronary revascularization procedures; stroke (ischemic or haemorrhagic, including transient ischemic attacks) symptomatic peripheral artery disease that required surgery or was diagnosed with vascular imaging techniques; ventricular arrhythmia; uncontrolled atrial fibrillation; congestive heart failure; hypertrophic myocardiopathy, or aortic aneurism,
Active malignant cancer or history of malignancy within the last 5 years (except non-melanoma skin cancer)
Issues affecting food intake e.g. dysphagia, severe allergies, food neophobia, strong dislike of foods in diet plan, or religious issues
Lack of motivation to change diet/lifestyle (low likelihood as calculated according to the Prochaska and DiClemente Stages of Change Model)
Lack of motivation to fast Medical reasons not allowing very low calorie intake, type 1 or 2 diabetes
Pregnancy or hoping to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
Current adherence to other weight loss or exercise program
Illiteracy or inability/unwillingness to give written informed consent or communicate with study staff
Institutionalization
History of surgical procedures for weight loss or intention to undergo bariatric surgery in the next 12 months
Obesity of known endocrine origin (e.g. hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome)
Serious psychiatric disorders including: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or depression with hospitalization within the last 6 months
Alcohol abuse or addiction (or total daily alcohol intake >50 g) or drug abuse within the past 6 months
Current use of weight loss medication
Sites / Locations
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Mediterranean diet plus intermittent fasting
Eatwell guide plus intermittent fasting
For 4 weeks participants will be encouraged to adopt the Mediterranean dietary guidelines as recommended by the Mediterranean Diet Foundation in Barcelona, Spain. In combination with these guidelines, an intermittent fasting regime involving two days of the week will be implemented. The regime will encourage individuals to consume of 500kcal per day for women and 625kcal per day for men, resulting in 75% daily caloric restriction during each of these two days.
For 4 weeks participants will be encouraged to adopt the UK dietary guidelines (Eatwell Guide). In combination with these guidelines, an intermittent fasting regime involving two days of the week will be implemented. The regime will encourage individuals to consume of 500kcal per day for women and 625kcal per day for men, resulting in 75% daily caloric restriction during each of these two days.