Intermittent Fasting in Youth: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

• Intermittent fasting (IF) is recognized for its benefits in adult weight management and cardiometabolic health.
• Evidence regarding IF's efficacy and safety in adolescents and emerging adults remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of intermittent fasting interventions in individuals aged 10 to 25.
• To analyze IF's methodology, parameters, outcomes, adherence, feasibility, and efficacy in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search and review of studies involving intermittent fasting in individuals aged 10-25.
• Inclusion of 39 studies with 731 participants (aged 15-25).
• Analysis of diverse IF regimens, including time-restricted eating and caloric restriction.

Main Results:

• Most studies reported significant weight loss among participants.
• Commonly measured outcomes included cardiometabolic risk factors, body composition, and anthropometric measurements.
• Varied methodologies were observed, with a notable number of studies employing time-restricted eating.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent fasting demonstrates potential as an intervention for obesity in adolescents and emerging adults.
• Further high-quality research with standardized frameworks is essential to establish IF's feasibility and practicality in this population.