Intermittent fasting: Fab or fad?
March 15, 2023If you’ve ever perused social media to look for dieting or weight loss trends, you’ve probably heard of intermittent fasting.
Unlike most diets, intermittent fasting doesn’t focus on what you can eat. Instead, it restricts when you can eat your meals. While there are several types of intermittent fasting, the general premise involves selecting specific times of the day or week when you can eat meals. Some popular methods include:
- Restricting all eating to a 6- to 8-hour period each day.
- Eating regularly 5 days of the week and only eating one meal on the other 2 days.
- Alternating days of regular eating with days when you consume less than 600 calories.
Does intermittent fasting work?
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shown evidence of short-term benefits to intermittent fasting.
In the short term, fasting can produce ketosis, which is a process in which the body begins to break down stored fat due to a reduced supply of available glucose. This process coupled with fewer consumed calories overall can lead to weight loss.
Additional benefits can include reduced inflammation in the body and improved blood sugar regulation. However, it is important to not overeat during eating periods or you may end up gaining more weight than you started with.
Is intermittent fasting right for me?
Intermittent fasting can be a safe practice for many people, but it’s not for everyone. Skipping or reducing meals can cause unwanted side effects including hunger, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, decreased concentration, nausea, constipation and headaches.
Because fasting directly affects metabolic processes and can cause additional stress to the body, intermittent fasting is NOT recommended for people under 18, those with a history of eating disorders, or those pregnant or breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor
If you are interested in starting intermittent fasting for weight loss, talk to your primary care physician first to make sure it is safe for your specific health needs. "Whole body wellness should be the focus if you’re trying to pursue a healthier lifestyle,” says Saint Agnes Internal Medicine physician Ariel Leung, MD. “Before starting a diet or if you have questions about incorporating healthier habits into your lifestyle, talk to your primary care doctor first. There are many options that are adjusted based on each individual person and their personal needs."
Don’t have a primary care provider? Get established with one of our Saint Agnes Care physicians. With several locations across Fresno and Clovis – plus the option to schedule new patient appointments and follow-up care online – we’re making health care more accessible and convenient.