A study suggests that individuals with a younger biological age relative to their chronological age may lose more weight during periods of calorie restriction.
Key facts
- •The study monitored 32 volunteers aged 25 to 72 during a 12-day, medically supervised fast.
- •Participants consumed only 200 to 250 calories per day in the form of fruit juice, vegetable broth, and honey.
- •Researchers used 12 different epigenetic clocks to track changes in the biological age of the volunteers.
- •Biologically younger participants consistently lost more weight than those who were biologically older.
- •Experts suggest that better metabolic adaptability in younger biological profiles may enable more efficient fat burning.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and King’s College London have found that biological age may influence weight loss outcomes. In a study of 32 volunteers, those who were biologically younger at the start of a 12-day medically supervised fast lost more weight than those who were biologically older. The findings suggest that biological age could impact how efficiently the body transitions from burning food-based energy to utilizing stored fat.
By the numbers
Study Methodology and Observations
The study involved 32 healthy volunteers aged 25 to 72 who consumed between 200 and 250 calories daily for 12 days. The diet consisted of fruit juice, vegetable broths, and honey, consumed in three specific time windows. This regimen was conducted as a medically supervised inpatient program at a specialist clinic to ensure safety and clinical monitoring. To track biological age, the researchers utilized 12 different epigenetic clocks, which analyze chemical tags on DNA that change over time. While the clocks produced varying results regarding the stress of the fast on the body, they consistently indicated that participants with a younger biological age experienced greater weight loss.
Potential Biological Mechanisms
While the exact mechanism remains unknown, researchers suggest that biologically younger individuals may possess superior metabolic adaptability. This allows them to switch more efficiently between fuel sources when calorie intake is low. Paulina Correa-Burrows of the University of Chile notes that younger biological age is often associated with more efficient mitochondria and improved nutrient-sensing pathways in cells, both of which facilitate faster fat burning. Steve Horvath, who led the study, emphasized that the 12-day fast is not intended as a long-term diet. He noted that the study group was small, making the results inconclusive. Future research is needed to determine if these findings apply to less restrictive dietary patterns.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by New Scientist.
