Intermittent fasting and drinking‑water studies challenge common diet beliefs

A 12‑week study involving 99 overweight adults tested an 8‑hour eating window (16 hours fasting) and found participants maintained significant weight loss for at least one year after the program ended. The research, conducted by the University of Granada and partners, showed that limiting daily food intake to an 8‑hour period helped preserve reduced body weight and fat compared with eating over 12 hours or more.

Separately, researchers at Cornell University reported that drinking water during meals increases food consumption. In a test with 49 adults, each additional 100 g of water consumed added about 39 g of food (roughly 49 calories). Conversely, adding spicier sauce reduced overall intake by 28 % and slowed eating speed. The findings suggest that the habit of drinking while eating may undermine weight‑loss efforts, while spicier foods could aid calorie control.

Both studies highlight how simple eating patterns—timing and beverage habits—can have measurable effects on long‑term weight management.