Study analysis · Growth Factors · 2024
Lifting weights while fasting every other day burns more fat than either alone — here’s why.
When obese men lifted weights and ate less every other day, they lost more fat and got healthier than when they did just one of those things.
Overview
What the study found
The study in plain English — the bottom line, every takeaway we extracted, and what to do with them.
In simple terms
We don't know how the study was done — maybe they picked people randomly, maybe not. So we can't say for sure that the exercise and diet caused the changes we saw. It might just be coincidence or something else.
What’s the bottom line?
When obese men lifted weights and ate fewer calories every other day, they lost more fat and improved their health markers better than doing just one of those things alone.
How strong is this study?
This study is like a puzzle with half the pieces missing. We can see some results, but we don't know if the experiment was fair or if the people were chosen in a way that makes the results trustworthy. That means we can't really believe the claims yet.
0 / 100
- COI disclosureconflicts of interest not disclosed
- Data availabilitydata not shared
- Code availabilitycode not shared
0 / 100
- Randomizationrandomization unclear
- Blindingblinding unclear
- Control groupno control group
- Sample sizeno sample size reported
- Follow-upno follow-up reported
100 / 100
23 / 100
- P-values+15/15
- Effect sizeno effect size reported
- Confidence intervalsno confidence intervals
- Pre-registrationnot pre-registered
Each component is scored out of 100 and then capped by the study design — a case series cannot reach the ceiling a randomised trial can, however well it is reported.
Where it sits
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 526 / 100
Probability of being correct
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
This design cannot establish causation — the findings describe an association, not a cause. Randomization, blinding, and control group status are unknown in the abstract; therefore, causation cannot be established.
No Conflicts
No conflicts of interest identified
No conflicts of interest or funding information were disclosed in the provided text.
The abstract contains no information regarding funding, author affiliations, or conflicts of interest. Without a full manuscript, it is not possible to determine if disclosures were omitted or simply not included in this excerpt.
Key takeaways
- 01
They lost more weight, body fat, and waist size; their insulin resistance improved; and two key blood proteins (adipsin and sEGFR) changed favorably.
- 02
Yes — losing more fat and improving insulin resistance can lower diabetes and heart disease risk, which matters for long-term health.
Practical takeaways
If you're obese and trying to lose fat, try combining resistance training (like weightlifting) with alternate-day calorie restriction for 8 weeks.
This study only included obese men, and full methodology (like sample size, adherence, or diet details) wasn't available.
low confidenceWhy this study matters
Double the Impact
Obese men who combined resistance training with alternate-day calorie restriction lost more body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio than those doing either intervention alone — all within just 8 weeks.
Most people think either dieting or working out is enough — this shows doing both together creates a stronger effect, making it easier to see real results faster.
Blood Biomarkers Changed
The combo group showed the greatest improvements in HOMA-IR (a measure of insulin resistance) and circulating levels of adipsin and soluble EGFR — two proteins linked to metabolic health.
These aren’t just numbers on a scale — they’re signs your body is becoming less prone to diabetes and inflammation, which most people don’t realize can change in just two months.
Synergy in Action
The study suggests RET + ADCR works better together than separately — implying the two interventions amplify each other’s benefits on fat loss and metabolic function.
It’s not just additive — it’s multiplicative. This challenges the idea that you have to choose between diet or exercise, and shows they’re a power duo.
Want the whole report?
Detailed mode opens the full scientific breakdown — every score component, the methodology, conflicts of interest, the evidence analysis behind each claim, and the raw study data.
Overview
What the study found
The study in plain English — the bottom line, every takeaway we extracted, and what to do with them.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When obese men lifted weights and ate fewer calories every other day, they lost more fat and improved their health markers better than doing just one of those things alone.
Research results
They lost more weight, body fat, and waist size; their insulin resistance improved; and two key blood proteins (adipsin and sEGFR) changed favorably.
What this means - more context
Yes — losing more fat and improving insulin resistance can lower diabetes and heart disease risk, which matters for long-term health.
This study investigated whether combining resistance exercise training (RET) and alternate-day calorie restriction (ADCR) improves body composition, insulin resistance, and metabolic biomarkers more than either intervention alone in obese men.
In obese men, an 8-week combination of RET and ADCR led to greater reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as greater improvements in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and circulating levels of adipsin and soluble EGFR, compared to RET or ADCR alone.
Methods Used
The study compared three groups (RET + ADCR, RET alone, ADCR alone) in obese men over 8 weeks. Methodology details not available in abstract.
Main Finding
RET + ADCR produced significantly greater improvements than either intervention alone in body weight, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, HOMA-IR, adipsin, and soluble EGFR (p < 0.05).
Confidence Level
Limited - based on abstract only, full methodology not available
Study Flags
Red Flags
- •Full text not available - methodology details cannot be verified
- •Randomization and blinding status unknown
- •Effect sizes and confidence intervals not reported
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Practical Takeaways
If you're obese and trying to lose fat, try combining resistance training (like weightlifting) with alternate-day calorie restriction for 8 weeks.
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 526 / 100
Probability of being correct
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Human RCT
Subject
Lower probability
on the GRADE evidence scale
We don't know how the study was done — maybe they picked people randomly, maybe not. So we can't say for sure that the exercise and diet caused the changes we saw. It might just be coincidence or something else.
No conflicts of interest were detected in this study. No score impact.
Weaknesses
- Full methodology not available - based on abstract only
- Randomization status unknown
- Blinding status unknown
Methodology
Evidence Keywords
Statistical Reporting
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When obese men lifted weights and ate fewer calories every other day, they lost more fat and improved their health markers better than doing just one of those things alone.
Research results
They lost more weight, body fat, and waist size; their insulin resistance improved; and two key blood proteins (adipsin and sEGFR) changed favorably.
What this means - more context
Yes — losing more fat and improving insulin resistance can lower diabetes and heart disease risk, which matters for long-term health.
This study investigated whether combining resistance exercise training (RET) and alternate-day calorie restriction (ADCR) improves body composition, insulin resistance, and metabolic biomarkers more than either intervention alone in obese men.
In obese men, an 8-week combination of RET and ADCR led to greater reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as greater improvements in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and circulating levels of adipsin and soluble EGFR, compared to RET or ADCR alone.
Methods Used
The study compared three groups (RET + ADCR, RET alone, ADCR alone) in obese men over 8 weeks. Methodology details not available in abstract.
Main Finding
RET + ADCR produced significantly greater improvements than either intervention alone in body weight, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, HOMA-IR, adipsin, and soluble EGFR (p < 0.05).
Confidence Level
Limited - based on abstract only, full methodology not available
Study Flags
Red Flags
- •Full text not available - methodology details cannot be verified
- •Randomization and blinding status unknown
- •Effect sizes and confidence intervals not reported
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Practical Takeaways
If you're obese and trying to lose fat, try combining resistance training (like weightlifting) with alternate-day calorie restriction for 8 weeks.
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 526 / 100
Probability of being correct
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Human RCT
Subject
Lower probability
on the GRADE evidence scale
We don't know how the study was done — maybe they picked people randomly, maybe not. So we can't say for sure that the exercise and diet caused the changes we saw. It might just be coincidence or something else.
No conflicts of interest were detected in this study. No score impact.
Weaknesses
- Full methodology not available - based on abstract only
- Randomization status unknown
- Blinding status unknown
Methodology
Evidence Keywords
Statistical Reporting
Scoring
How strong is this study?
This study is like a puzzle with half the pieces missing. We can see some results, but we don't know if the experiment was fair or if the people were chosen in a way that makes the results trustworthy. That means we can't really believe the claims yet.
0 / 100
- COI disclosureconflicts of interest not disclosed
- Data availabilitydata not shared
- Code availabilitycode not shared
0 / 100
- Randomizationrandomization unclear
- Blindingblinding unclear
- Control groupno control group
- Sample sizeno sample size reported
- Follow-upno follow-up reported
100 / 100
23 / 100
- P-values+15/15
- Effect sizeno effect size reported
- Confidence intervalsno confidence intervals
- Pre-registrationnot pre-registered
Each component is scored out of 100 and then capped by the study design — a case series cannot reach the ceiling a randomised trial can, however well it is reported.
Where it sits
RCT reviewsReviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized TrialsRandomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort StudiesReviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort StudiesCohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control StudiesReviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control StudiesCase-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case SeriesCross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert OpinionExpert Opinion
Max 526 / 100
Probability of being correct
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
This design cannot establish causation — the findings describe an association, not a cause. Randomization, blinding, and control group status are unknown in the abstract; therefore, causation cannot be established.
No Conflicts
No conflicts of interest identified
No conflicts of interest or funding information were disclosed in the provided text.
The abstract contains no information regarding funding, author affiliations, or conflicts of interest. Without a full manuscript, it is not possible to determine if disclosures were omitted or simply not included in this excerpt.
Standing
The people behind it
The researchers who wrote the study this analysis is built on.
Authored by
3 researchersIf this is your work, this is how we attribute it on Fit Body Science. Yousif Hikmat is listed as the lead author.