Study reveals that the 16:8 diet is associated with a 91% increase in cardiovascular death risk. Experts urge caution in dietary recommendations.

A recently published study has established a concerning connection between the popular intermittent fasting method known as the 16:8 diet and a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular death. Users of this diet, favored by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Heidi Klum, and Jennifer Lopez, have been found to have a 91% increased risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who eat over longer periods of 12 to 16 hours. The study, conducted by researchers who analyzed the eating habits of over 20,000 US adults over an eight-year period, has raised alarm bells in the scientific community.

Dr. Victor Wenze Zhong, the senior author of the study and a professor at China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, emphasized the need for a more personalized approach to dietary recommendations based on an individual’s health status and current scientific evidence. He expressed surprise at the study’s findings, noting that individuals following an eight-hour time-restricted eating schedule were at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.

The research findings, presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention│Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, also revealed a 66% higher risk of cardiovascular death for individuals with preexisting heart conditions who followed an eating window lasting between eight and 10 hours a day. This study adds to existing research that questions the benefits of time-restricted eating, highlighting the importance of considering the nutritional value of diets in future research endeavors.

Experts, including Dr. Christopher D. Gardner of Stanford University and nutritionist Rania Batayneh, have raised concerns about the 16:8 diet, with the latter suggesting a less restrictive approach to eating patterns. Batayneh recommends a 12-hour window for eating, starting later in the evening, to provide the body with the necessary nutrients throughout the day without feeling deprived or fatigued. This structured approach, focused on nourishing the body and resisting unnecessary snacking, is deemed a healthier alternative to the potentially risky 16:8 diet.
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