My understanding as a fitness trainer, is that type of condition is much like the myth of 'stop eating and you'll lose weight'. You may lose a very small portion of weight but your body detects a starvation mode and will begin to save 'fat stores' - WHY? because it thinks the body is going to need it later on.
Best practice:
A body will actually begin losing weight if you provide 3-4 small caloric meals a day beginning from the time you get out of bed. REALLY IT WORKS. But Diet alone will never work as successfully as diet + exercise (which I am sure you are aware of).
Good luck. Be well!~