Intermittent fasting has become a trendy eating pattern that’s supposed to help you lose weight and improve your health.
“Everybody sort of finds their own way to do it,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. “Some people intermittently fast by not eating or eating very little every other day. Some people do it two days a week; they eat very little or nothing, and the other five days they eat a regular diet. Some people do it within a 24-hour period. For example, they may eat for 8 hours a day and then 16 hours a day they won’t eat.”
But can short-term fasting really help with weight loss?
“It has been studied in the short term about weight loss and it does effectively help people lose weight,” Dr. Swartzberg told me. “Of course, anything that you do where you restrict the amount of calories, you’re going to eat helps you lose weight. And compared to other diets, it’s pretty equivalent. But for some people, this is a very good way of taking off some pounds.”
Intermittent fasting can cause some discomfort, including headaches, dizziness, weakness, and low blood sugar – especially at the start.
It’s not recommended for children, or someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Adolescents should only do it, the Wellness Letter says, under medical supervision.
More Info: Intermittent Fasting: What the Science Says About This Trendy Way of Eating (This link provides free access to the Wellness Letter article until June 30, 2022.)
