In a follow-up study overweight and obese patients fasting according to Buchinger (modified) and a control group treated by a weight reduction diet in the context of an inpatient naturopathic complex treatment were compared using a questionnaire developed for a standardized phone interview 6.8 ± 1.1 years after inpatient treatment. During the inpatient treatment the fasting patients significantly more body weight, but at the time of the interview significantly more weight was gained again. 10.7% of the fasting patients and 31.9% of the control group lowered their weight at least 5% of their initial weight up to the interview. 42% of the fasting and 74% of the control group persistently changed their diet. The control group followed a significantly higher number of trained nutritional aspects. 21% of the fasting and 40% of the control group increased their leisure activity permanently. Continued improvement in quality of life was achieved by 16% of the fasting patients and 28% of the control group. The fasting therapy, carried out as part of the inpatient naturopathic complex treatment, turned out to be less suitable for the treatment of overweight and obesity compared to standard therapy. One likely determinant is the minor poststationary lifestyle modification.

Background: Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for many chronic diseases in modern societies. A retrospective follow-up study showed an advantage of weight reduction diet (WRD) to fasting therapy  concerning long-term weight loss.Objective: Prospective comparison of WRD to fasting therapy concerning long-term weight loss. Methods: From 08/2007 to 02/2009 90 patients with overweight or obesity were observed with a follow-up period of 6 months, who received either a fasting therapy or a WRD in the context of naturopathic complex in-patient treatment including physical activity.Results: During the in-patient treatment the fasting patients loosed significantly more weight than the WRD patients, but regained weight during the follow-up, while the weight loss of the WRD patients persisted. 32% of the fasting and 81% of the WRD patients achieved a 5% weight loss after 6 months. Total and LDL-cholesterol were significantly more reduced, controlled eating habits, physical leisure activity and tendentially physical quality of life increased more after 6 months in the WRD group, while the systolic blood pressure declined more in the fasting patients.Conclusion: Weight loss and improvement of obesity-associated parameters were long-term significantly inferior in fasting patients compared to patients treated with a WRD. The reduced success of the fasting patients is probably caused by the minor lifestyle modification.