Energy -Sensing Metabolites in Caloric Restriction

To investigate whether IF is better than DCR in terms of metabolic improvement through the study of: 1. the dynamics of gastrointestinal hormones and energy sensing metabolites 2. the intestinal microbiome 3. variability on succinate and SCFAs MCFAs and BA after weight loss Human study protocol: A pilot clinical trial in human study participants will be assayed. Participants for intermittent fasting (IF) will be asked to fast for 24 hours on two days of the week (2/5 protocol). 1A.-Design: Utilizing a randomized, cross-over design, study participants (n=15) will consume either lifestyle recommendations for a healthy Mediterranean diet under a continued daily caloric restriction diet (DCR) or will undertake an intermittent (IF) protocol. Each study period will be 8 weeks - total study period will be 16 weeks + a 4-week washout period between dietary exposures. The study participants will be adults who have obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI)25 kg/m2 and 40 kg/m2 and have no contraindications for intermittent fasting (see inclusion and exclusion criteria below).