According to Brandy Sarrette, RDN, LDN, a clinical dietician with Baystate Health, “Intermittent fasting is an eating plan that switches between fasting and eating on a set schedule. The idea is that restricting your eating or caloric intake to certain hours of the day or days of the week causes your body to burn fat for fuel.”

Intermittent fasting has gained a following, in part because of tantalizing hints that it can boost cognition, fend off cancer and even slow aging

People who followed the 4:3 fasting plan over a year lost more weight than those who restricted calories every day.