It is clear that there is an epidemic of obesity in the U.S. Turns out, that is also true in China. This fact contributes to the fact that China has the highest number of diabetics in the world. It increased from 90 million to 140.9 million from 2011 to 2021; that is a 56.6% increase!
Researchers in China wanted to test a special diet program compared to taking one of two anti-diabetes medications (metformin or empagliflozin) in adults with early diabetes.
The diet included intermittent fasting (2 non-consecutive days only eating a prepackaged dinner but 5 days choosing breakfast and lunch foods but also eating a prepackaged dinner on those days).
The prepackaged dinner meals were healthy, provided energy, and were low calorie. These meals were manufactured by a company that does this. The prepackaged meals on the 2 fasting days resulted in 500 cal per day for adult women and 600 cal per day for adult men.
The people in the two control groups ate as usual but took either metformin or empagliflozin each day.
After 16 weeks, all research subjects were tested for amount of weight loss and level of Hemoglobin A1C (diabetes test).
The subjects on the special diet (intermittent fasting plus pre-packaged meals) lost more weight and had lower Hemoglobin A1C levels than the subjects taking medication each day.
This research demonstrated that a lifestyle change (intermittent fasting plus using prepackaged dinner meals) was more effective for treating early diabetes than taking one of two different anti-diabetes medications.
The research article was published by Guo and colleagues in JAMA NETWORK OPEN 2024; 7(6): e2416786.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
