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My Longevity Experiment
February 26, 2025

Intermittent Calorie Restriction and Weight Loss: A New Pathway to Fighting Obesity

Scientists seeking solutions to the global obesity crisis have made a groundbreaking discovery, that being, intermittent calorie restriction leads to significant changes in both the gut and the brain, offering new possibilities for weight management and long-term health.

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The Impact of Intermittent Calorie Restriction on the Brain and Gut

Researchers from China conducted a study involving 25 volunteers classified as obese, monitoring them over a 62-day period while they adhered to an intermittent energy restriction (IER) program. This structured approach to dieting involves carefully controlled calorie intake with periods of relative fasting.

Participants in the study experienced substantial weight loss, averaging 7.6 kilograms (16.8 pounds) or 7.8 percent of their total body weight. Beyond weight reduction, researchers observed notable changes in obesity-related brain activity and gut microbiome composition.

"Here we show that an IER diet changes the human brain-gut-microbiome axis," stated health researcher Qiang Zeng from the Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases in China.

"The observed changes in the gut microbiome and in the activity in addiction-related brain regions during and after weight loss are highly dynamic and coupled over time."

The Brain-Gut Connection and Appetite Control

While the precise cause of these changes remains unclear, the established link between the brain and the gut suggests that targeting specific brain regions could help regulate food intake. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans revealed shifts in brain activity in areas responsible for appetite regulation and addiction, including the inferior frontal orbital gyrus.

Gut microbiome alterations were identified through stool samples and blood measurements, revealing associations between specific bacteria and brain activity.

For example, the bacteria Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii showed a negative correlation with activity in the left inferior frontal orbital gyrus, a brain region critical for executive function and self-control in food consumption.

"The gut microbiome is thought to communicate with the brain in a complex, two-directional way," explained medical scientist Xiaoning Wang from the State Clinic Center for Geriatrics in China.

"The microbiome produces neurotransmitters and neurotoxins which access the brain through nerves and the blood circulation. In return, the brain controls eating behavior, while nutrients from our diet change the composition of the gut microbiome."

The Global Obesity Epidemic and Future Research

Obesity affects over a billion people worldwide, increasing the risk of severe health conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Understanding the intricate relationship between the brain and the gut may provide new strategies for obesity prevention and treatment.

"The next question to be answered is the precise mechanism by which the gut microbiome and the brain communicate in obese people, including during weight loss," said biomedical scientist Liming Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"What specific gut microbiome and brain regions are critical for successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight?"

As researchers continue to explore the brain-gut connection, intermittent calorie restriction emerges as a promising tool for sustainable weight management and overall well-being.

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