Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have shown that a combination of time-restricted meals and high-intensity interval training helps women burn fat around their abdominal organs. The research was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
The study included 131 overweight or obese women. Participants were divided into three groups: the first adhered to high-intensity interval training, the second combined the same workout with intermittent fasting, and the third lived and ate as usual.
Participants in the second group were allowed to eat whatever they wanted, but only within a ten-hour window. They trained for 35 minutes three times a week, keeping their heart rate at 90% of their maximum. This group showed the best results, shedding the most visceral fat surrounding the viscera in the abdominal cavity. They also experienced a significant drop in blood sugar levels and increased oxygen consumption. They also lost twice as much weight as members of other groups.
Visceral fat has previously been shown to increase inflammation in the body, which in turn increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression and dementia.