You’re right that that “study” was a complete joke. I’ve been practicing IF for 5 years and have easily maintained a 45-lb weight loss. Sure, if you occasionally do IF for a little while until you lose a few pounds then go back to chowing down all-day, returning to IF will be miserable, make you cranky, and any weight loss will be temporary—just like other diets. But if you make it a lifestyle, the hunger, fogginess and crankiness go away as your body gets acclimated to fat-burning, and you get the hunger hormone ghrelin under control. Then it just feels normal but way more free because you’re no longer a slave to a rumbling tummy—and the weight stays off.

5 years, never missed a fast, I know what I’m talking about. IF does go against our cultural gluttony though so it’s not for everybody.