The 18-hour diet: principles, drawbacks, advantages, and expert assessment

The eight-hour diet is a diet devised by David Zincenko and Peter Moore that consists of two periods of fasting and an 8-hour nutritional window. The diet does not impose quantitative or qualitative restrictions, although dieters encourage healthy food choices.

The fundamental disadvantage is to allow for the freedom to consume products. Weight loss is determined by the energy balance. The loss of kilograms occurs only when the amount of energy expended exceeds the amount consumed. The consumption of eight-hour meals that provide energy in excess of what is needed will undoubtedly lead to weight gain, even if supported by a 16-hour hunger strike. Another aspect of the proposed diet that does not budget is the motivation to improve the body's nutritional needs. It is precisely from changing the way we eat to improve our health and fat-rich tissues.

In the light of recent (and ongoing) studies, the concept of eating meals at a given time interval with a daily rhythm is most likely to have a beneficial effect on the body. So far, little work has been done on the effects of TRF (time-restricted feeding) on human body function, although positive effects have been repeatedly demonstrated in the brain. However, improvements in insulin sensitivity, loss of fat, decreased inflammation have been observed.

The effectiveness of an eight-hour diet has not been confirmed. However, basic knowledge about the metabolism of energy substrates suggests a low likelihood of weight loss. Using only a nutritional window with a positive energy balance makes it impossible to trigger fat reserves. Unfortunately, complete freedom in product selection can lead to excessive energy consumption.