Intermittent fasting might help lower triglycerides a little more than regular calorie cutting in people with overweight or obesity, but the difference is so small that scientists can't say for sure it's not just due to chance.

People with metabolic syndrome who follow intermittent fasting see a tiny but real drop in their triglyceride levels, which means their body is handling fat better.

For people who are overweight or obese, cutting calories all the time works about the same as intermittent fasting when it comes to cholesterol, triglycerides, and belly fat — neither one has a clear edge.

Almost everyone who switched to a low-fat, high-carb diet saw their blood fat levels go up—only one person didn’t, which means this effect happens in nearly all people.

Intermittent fasting might help lower blood sugar a little more than regular calorie cutting in people with extra weight, but the difference is so small it probably doesn’t matter in real life.

Intermittent fasting might help people lose a little more weight than cutting calories the usual way, but the difference is so small it could just be due to chance — overall, both methods work about the same for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.