Losing weight, getting fit and generally leading a healthier life, is perhaps the most common New Year resolution. Some people work out more, others take on a sport, while some go down the eating healthy route.
While the Mediterranean diet often comes out on top, new research suggests intermittent energy restriction could be just the ticket for some.
How does intermittent energy restriction work?
IER involves alternating periods of eating in caloric deficit interspersed with periods of eating at caloric maintenance.
For example, a person could restrict calories by 30 per cent below maintenance for two weeks, then spend the following two weeks eating regularly.
It holds promise as a viable approach for weight management and overall health improvement
Janani Satchithanantham,
specialist dietitian, Aster Hospital
This is a modification to most diets that promote continuous caloric deficit in order to achieve weight loss goals. One of the USPs of this approach is to avoid an impending diet crash, which is what usually happens to people who drastically alter their eating habits to follow a strict deficit over the long term.
“IER works on the principle that intermittent periods of energy restriction may induce various physiological responses in the body, leading to improved metabolic health,” says Janani Satchithanantham, a specialist dietitian at Aster Hospital in Al Qusais, Dubai.
“During the fasting or reduced calorie periods, the body experiences changes in insulin sensitivity, cellular repair processes and hormone levels, all of which contribute to potential health benefits.”
Good bacteria, bad bacteria
Research published last week in the Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology journal, looked at how the gut microbiome and brain activity changed in a sample group with obesity (with a body mass index between 28 and 45) when put on the IER diet.
By the end of the study, the participants' weight decreased by an average of 7.6kg, or about 7.8 per cent. Researchers also noticed positive activity in brain regions associated with appetite and addiction regulation.
The results also pointed to increases in healthy gut bacteria including faecalibacterium prausnitzii, parabacteroides distasonis, and bacteroides uniformis. These microbes are associated with brain regions that control attention, motor inhibition, emotion and learning.
The study further noted a decrease in E coli, which is associated with dietary behaviour and people's willingness to lose weight.
Is IER safe?
As with other dieting methods, researchers suggest the effect is greater when the diet is followed consistently. “Long-term dietary intervention exerts a sustained impact on gut microbiota, whereas short-term dietary change only causes rapid and temporary changes in gut microbiota,” they write. “Thus, for weight loss maintenance, a highly controlled long-term IER intervention is recommended.”
However, Satchithanantham says people should exercise caution before embarking on any dieting strategy, and that IER “may not be suitable or safe for everyone”.
It is not advised for those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, for example.
“Individualised approaches that consider personal health goals and potential risks are essential for a balanced and sustainable approach to dietary practices,” she explains.
She agrees, however, that the “current body of evidence suggests it holds promise as a viable approach for weight management and overall health improvement”.
For those who want to try IER, the Dubai specialist warns it is important to choose nutrient-dense foods instead of blindly monitoring caloric intake.
These food choices are crucial when it comes to the method's efficacy, she says, as they ensure the body receives the essential vitamins and minerals for a better health outcome.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Oppenheimer
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The%20specs%20
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Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Company%20Profile
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
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On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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Company%20profile
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now