CHICAGO / PHOENIX — Millions of Americans have tried intermittent fasting and wondered why it seemed to work better — or worse — than plain calorie restriction. A new scientific study may finally have the answer.
Research published in late May 2026 found that intermittent fasting triggers simultaneous, coordinated changes in the gut microbiome and in the brain regions associated with cravings, appetite, and addiction. The changes appear to happen together — and to feed each other — in a way that calorie restriction alone does not replicate.
