A large new review shows intermittent fasting may not help overweight adults lose more weight than simply cutting calories. The study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, checked 22 previous studies with nearly 2,000 adults from around the world. It compared popular fasting plans like the 5:2 diet and eating within eight-hour windows to usual calorie-cutting advice or no diet changes. Surprisingly, intermittent fasting made little difference in weight loss or quality of life compared to traditional diets. Lead author Luis Garegnani from the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires said, "Intermittent fasting might be a reasonable option for some individuals, but the current evidence does not justify the enthusiasm observed on social media." While some of the original studies had weaker methods, the overall review casts doubt on the popular trend. This study was reported by BBC News and published in Dawn on February 17th, 2026.