Intermittent fasting may ease Crohn’s disease symptoms, but experts urge caution
25 Feb 2026
The study, published in Gastroenterology, involved 35 adults with Crohn’s disease who were overweight or obese. Participants were divided into two groups: 20 followed a time-restricted feeding (TRF) schedule, while 15 continued with their usual eating patterns. TRF participants ate all meals within an eight-hour period and fasted for the remaining 16 hours, without reducing overall calorie intake.
Researchers found that those following TRF lost around 2.5 kilograms, saw decreases in visceral fat, and had lower levels of certain inflammatory markers in the blood, including leptin and PAI-1. In contrast, participants in the control group gained an average of 1.7 kilograms.
Despite these promising results, GP and dietitian Dr Terri-Lynne South, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Obesity Management, said the study is too small and short-term to apply broadly.
“It’s encouraging to explore different management options, but Crohn’s disease is chronic. Any intervention needs to be sustainable long term,” Dr South said.
She noted that while patients can often make short-term lifestyle changes, maintaining them over months or years is more difficult. Dr South also raised questions about the control group and whether the benefits were due to calorie restriction rather than the fasting period itself.
Time-restricted eating may still be a helpful approach for managing obesity, which is linked to inflammation in Crohn’s disease, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Crohn’s and Colitis Australia reports that inflammatory bowel disease is rising in Australia, with around 180,000 people currently affected and numbers expected to reach 200,000 within the next decade.
“We are seeing a lot of chronic diseases increasing, and environmental or gut health factors may be contributing,” Dr South added.
While intermittent fasting shows potential as a supportive strategy, experts emphasise that it should not replace standard medical care and that further research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners