Life sciences · Journal article
Frontiers in Nutrition · October 2, 2026
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The global obesity epidemic has increased the burden of metabolic diseases. Dietary interventions are key to managing obesity and improving metabolic health. Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a promising chrononutritional intervention that may modulate metabolic metabolic homeostasis through timed eating–fasting cycles. This review examines four main IF patterns:time-restricted feeding (TRF), alternate day fasting (ADF), the 5:2 fasting, and the 4:3 fasting, and evaluates their effects on body weight, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles. Furthermore, it delineates the mechanistic pathways through which IF confers metabolic benefits beyond caloric restriction alone: (1) alleviating insulin resistance by enhancing the intestinal mucosal barrier and upregulating GLP-1 expression suppressing endotoxemia-related inflammation; (2) restoring circadian rhythmicity in the expression of metabolism-related genes to correct metabolic dysregulation; (3) increasing energy expenditure and lipid oxidation via short-chain fatty acid-mediated browning of white adipose tissue (WAT); and (4) enhancing cellular autophagy through activation of the SIRT3–AMPK–mTOR signaling pathway, thereby improving overall metabolic function. Evidence supports IF as a potentially effective alternative for obesity and metabolic disorders through chronobiological mechanisms. However, potential adverse effects like hypoglycemia and adherence challenges highlight the need for individualized approaches in clinical practice.