Claim Verification: "Intermittent fasting is scientifically proven superior to other diets for fat loss and longevity." — Disproved

Automated fact-verification of the claim: "Intermittent fasting is scientifically proven superior to other diets for fat loss and longevity." Verdict: DISPROVED Key Findings Fat loss (SC1): Two independent peer-reviewed meta-analyses (PMC9108547, 2022; PMC11930668, 2025) confirm that intermittent fasting (IF) does not significantly outperform continuous caloric restriction (CCR) for fat loss. One finds "IF outcomes did not differ from CR"; the other finds the weight loss difference is "statistically nonsignificant." Longevity (SC2): No human randomized controlled trial has demonstrated that IF extends lifespan. A 2024 PMC review notes that "reported human studies have been of short duration." A large 2024 observational study of >20,000 U.S. adults (AHA) found time-restricted eating was not associated with living longer. Both sub-claims fail: The "scientifically proven superior" standard requires clear, consistent evidence of superiority. The scientific literature — including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and major health institutions — describes IF as equivalent to matched caloric restriction for fat loss, and as having no proven human longevity benefit. Counter-evidence checked: Searches found no meta-analysis concluding clinical superiority of IF for fat loss, and no human RCT showing IF extends lifespan. Files proof.py — Re-runnable Python verification script proof.md — Structured proof report proof_audit.md — Full verification audit trail proof_narrative.md — Plain-language summary proof.json — Machine-readable structured data Generated by Proof Engine v1.0.0.