Intermittent Fasting for Menopausal Weight Loss: What the Research Shows

Intermittent Fasting for Menopausal Weight Loss: What the Research Shows

Medical disclaimer: This article summarises published research for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified health professional. Always consult your doctor before starting any fasting protocol, especially if you have an existing health condition or take medication.

A 2012 trial tested two dieting styles in 25 women past menopause: fasting on and off some weeks, or cutting calories every single day. Both groups lost a similar amount of weight, fat, and waist size over about 20 weeks. A year later, most of that weight loss was still there in both groups.

The Short Version

• What they tested: Researchers compared fasting on and off some weeks against cutting calories every day, in women past menopause.
• Who did it: Helene Arguin at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, published this work in Menopause in 2012.
• How many people: 25 women took part, all of them past menopause and carrying extra weight.
• How long: About 20 weeks of dieting, plus a check-up one year later.
• What happened: Both groups lost a similar amount of weight, fat, and waist size.
• Read the study yourself: Menopause 2012 →

What They Wanted to Find Out

Many women gain weight around menopause and wonder which diet works best. Researchers wanted to know if fasting on and off some weeks works better than cutting calories every single day. They tested this in women who were already past menopause and carrying extra weight. Other studies on this site have looked at similar fasting patterns in menopause and in the years just before menopause.

Who Was in the Study

Who they were: All 25 women were past menopause and carrying extra weight. Their exact ages were not stated in the abstract.

What the fasting actually looked like: The on-off group had repeating blocks of eating less, then eating a steady amount. The steady group simply ate less every day for 15 weeks straight. Exact calorie amounts and meal timing were not stated in the abstract.

What Happened

Both diets worked about the same for losing weight.

• Weight, body fat, and waist size all went down in both groups, by about the same amount.
• Blood sugar levels (fasting glucose) dropped further in the on-off group only.
• Total cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of blood fat) dropped similarly in both groups.
• One type of cholesterol (LDL) improved only in the steady dieting group.
• A year later, most of the weight loss was still there in both groups.

What Did Not Change

• Resting metabolism stayed steady in both groups — fasting did not slow it down.
• "Good" cholesterol (HDL) stayed about the same in both groups.
• Muscle mass on its own was not reported — not stated in the abstract.

What the Researchers Said

The researchers said fasting on and off worked just as well as cutting calories every day. They noted most of the improvements happened in the first 5 weeks of either approach.

What This Means for You

• If you're past menopause: this study suggests on-off fasting works as well as cutting calories daily.
• Pick what you can stick with: consistency may matter more than which pattern you choose.
• For women specifically: this study found no sign that fasting is riskier after menopause.
• Blood sugar: may improve a bit more with on-off fasting, in this small group of women.
• Read more: see how fasting eased menopause symptoms.
• Compare patterns: see whether fasting works the same before and after menopause.

What This Study Could Not Tell Us

• Only 25 women took part — a small group.
• It ran about 20 weeks, so it can't say what happens over many years beyond the one-year check.
• All of the women were already past menopause and carrying extra weight.
• Diet details relied partly on what people reported themselves.
• Funding: not stated in the abstract.

The Study Details

Arguin, H., Dionne, I. J., Sénéchal, M., Bouchard, D. R., Carpentier, A. C., & Ardilouze, J. L. (2012). Short- and long-term effects of continuous versus intermittent restrictive diet approaches on body composition and the metabolic profile in overweight and obese postmenopausal women: a pilot study. Menopause. PMID: 22735163

Common Questions

Does intermittent fasting help with weight loss after menopause?

This study found that on-off dieting helped women past menopause lose weight. It worked about as well as cutting calories every day. Both approaches led to similar weight loss over about 20 weeks.

Is fasting better than cutting calories every day for menopause weight loss?

No. In this trial of 25 women, fasting on and off worked about the same as eating less every day. Neither approach was clearly better for weight loss.

Did the women keep the weight off after a year?

Yes. A year after the diets ended, both groups had kept most of their weight loss. The study found no major difference between the two groups.

Does fasting slow down metabolism after menopause?

No. Resting metabolism stayed steady in both groups in this study. Fasting did not appear to slow it down.

How many women were in this fasting study?

The study included 25 women, all of them past menopause and carrying extra weight. They were split into two groups of about 12 to 13 people each.

More Research Like This

• Time-Restricted Eating Eased Menopause Symptoms
• Alternate Day Fasting Works Equally Well Before and After Menopause
• Time-Restricted Eating Works the Same Before and After Menopause
• Time-Restricted Eating Cuts Weight the Same in Both Menopause Stages
• Time-Restricted Eating Didn't Change Sex Hormones in Menopause
• Combining Fasting With Interval Workouts Helped Women Over 50 Get Fitter
• 16:8 Intermittent Fasting in Women Over 60

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