Evaluation of the effect of intermittent energy restriction and continuous energy restriction diets on body composition, metabolic profile and mood status in overweight and obese women

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intermittent energy restriction and continuous energy restriction diets on body composition, metabolic profile and mood in overweight and obese women. The study was completed with between September 2019 and May 2020, 20 women, aged 20-45 years, who were admitted to Çankaya Yaşam Hospital in Diet Polyclinic. A change in body weight of more than 10% in the last 3 months, a history of metabolic and chronic disease, using any medication that may affect lipid or glucose metabolism in the last 6 months, and a physical activity level of > 3 hours/week during the last 3 months individuals were excluded from the study. Participants in the study were divided into two groups with random sampling method and applied Intermittent Energy Restriction (IER) (25% of their basal energy for Monday and Thursday) and Continuous Energy Restriction (CER) diets for 8 weeks. Nutrition Processes of Change Scale was applied at the beginning of the study to determine how the participants' experiences affect their eating habits. The average daily energy intake of the participants in the IER group was 1621.8 ± 125.61 kcal on normal days and 445.4 ± 37.50 kcal on fasting days; in the CER group were 1653.77 ± 129.54 kcal. In the fasting days, protein (%), fat (%) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (%) intakes of the IER group participants were found to be higher than normal days (p <0.05). It was determined that the participants in the IER group had insufficient intake of all vitamins and minerals according to DRI recommendations on fasting days. It was determined that the protein (%) and cholesterol (mg) intakes of the participants on the IER diet were higher than the participants on the CER diet (p <0.05). It was determined that the fat (g), fat (%), monounsaturated (%) and polyunsaturated (%) fatty acid and fiber (g) intakes of the participants on the CER diet were higher than the participants on the IER diet (p <0.05). The participants' diet type and physical activity level (according to PAL classification) were not statistically significant relationship (p> 0.05). BMI, waist circumference, waist / hip ratio, fat ratio, fat tissue, body water values of measurements of the participants showed statistically significant changes in both groups compared to the baseline (p <0.05). Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, Homa-Ir, triglyceride measurements of the participants showed statistically significant changes in both groups compared to the baseline (p <0.05). While HDL cholesterol, AST and TSH values did not differ significantly in the participants who used the IER diet, the measurements of the participants using the CER diet were statistically significant (p <0.05). The changes in the mood of the participants who used IER and CER diets evaluated by VAS were found to be statistically significant (p <0.05) however, changes in appetite were not found significant (p> 0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that the IER diet has no more advanteces over the CER diet in terms of anthropometric, biochemical findings, mood and appetite. These results should be supported by new studies.