- Intermittent fasting involves fasting for a specific period of time from a specific time of day to a specific day of the week.
- Evidence is mixed about the health benefits of intermittent fasting.
- A new study from Diverse Research found that intermittent fasting was associated with higher prevalence of eating disorder behaviors and psychopathologies, especially among young women.
- Some people can practice intermittent fasting if they keep certain safety tips in mind.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular diet trend among health and fitness enthusiasts that involves not eating at planned time intervals.
Intermittent fasting may offer health benefits, but researchers are still working to understand the full impact of this eating pattern.
A recent study published in diet We focused on the intermittent fasting practices of Canadian adolescents and young adults.
Researchers have found links between intermittent fasting and eating disorder behavior and psychopathology, as well as other risky behaviors among some members of this age demographic.
This result points to the need for further research into the potential risks of intermittent fasting.
A classic example of IF is fasting for two non-consecutive days in a week.
Another way is to only eat at certain times of the day. For example, the 16/8 method is fasting for 16 hours and eating only for 8 hours.
Blanca GarciaRDN, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian-nutritionist and nutrition expert with the Social Science Instrument Database (MIDSS), was not involved in the study, but was not involved in the research. It points out potential benefits. medical news today:
“With proper guidance from a Registered Dietitian, clients are guided to make balanced food choices with the 16:8 method. People who are on a chronic diet may skip meals or avoid many good foods.”
Some evidence suggests that intermittent fasting can contribute to weight loss and provide certain health benefits.
Intermittent fasting may help improve insulin sensitivity and heart health. It may also help prevent disorders such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.
however,
For example, intermittent fasting increases the risk of hypoglycemia, which can lead to muscle wasting if someone isn’t getting enough protein.
Fasting is dangerous for certain people and groups, such as young children and the elderly, and should be avoided.
Additionally, many aspects of the potential drawbacks of intermittent fasting have not yet been studied.
In the current study, researchers examined the relationship between intermittent fasting and eating disorders among adolescents and young adults.
For this study, we collected data from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors.
Researchers included 2,762 adolescents and young adults, including women, men, transgender or gender nonconforming individuals, in the analysis and recruited through social media.
Researchers have found that intermittent fasting is very popular with this age demographic.
Research author Kyle T. GunsonPhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, and Factor Inwentash Department of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada, explained: MNT:
“If [Intermittent fasting] It was highly prevalent among the sample, which included 48% of women, 38% of men, and 52% of transgender/gender nonconforming participants, who had fasted for an average of 100 days in the previous 12 months. ”
Researchers used the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire to examine behavior and psychopathology. They wanted to know how these attitudes and patterns resembled those of people with eating disorders.
The questionnaire explored participants’ dietary restrictions and concerns about weight, body shape, and diet. They also looked at eating disorder behaviors such as binge eating, compulsive exercise, and laxative use.
“Among all groups (men, women and transgender persons), involvement in intermittent fasting (IF) in the past 12 months was associated with greater eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. explained Gunson.
Moreover, IF was associated with all eating disorder behaviors, including bulimia, vomiting, laxative use, and compulsive exercise, especially among women, whereas among men, IF was associated with compulsive exercise. was related to ”
The findings highlight the need for further research into the potentially harmful effects of intermittent fasting, especially among young people.
A new study offers insight into the potential dangers of intermittent fasting, but it had some limitations.
First, the study cannot determine whether intermittent fasting causes eating disorders or vice versa.
Furthermore, the data collection method relied heavily on participants’ self-reports, which could lead to potential errors. Although the sample was diverse, selection bias based on the method used is still possible.
Participants could also interpret survey questions differently, increasing the risk of response bias. Finally, the questions may not capture the cognition and behavior of all eating disorders.
All these limitations point to the need for further research in this area.
Despite these challenges, insights can be gained by medical professionals. Ganson points to some clinical implications of the study.
“The data from this study indicate that IF is problematic and may be associated with serious and harmful eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. It is necessary to be cognizant of the behaviors that affect people and understand modern dietary trends, such as IF, which are commonly discussed among young people, especially on social media.Therefore, in relation to dietary practices and appropriate guidance, , needs to be more comprehensively assessed among young people. [given] when needed. ”
Some groups of people should not engage in intermittent fasting, such as those with compromised immune systems or those with certain hormonal imbalances.
The results of this study demonstrate the potential dangers of intermittent fasting among young adults and adolescents.
Still, some people can safely practice intermittent fasting By understanding the facts and gathering careful insights from experts. It’s also important to understand that everyone has different needs and risks.
If you’re interested in intermittent fasting, Garcia recommends these tips for staying healthy.
- See a registered dietitian who can guide you on proper food choices.
- Choose how you feed each day.
- To avoid eating too many high-calorie or fast foods, try to include a little of what you like each day. (Example: If you like cookies, 1-2 cookies a day is fine).
Non-Research Author and Registered Dietitian Anastasia JalaurisCDN, a certified nutritionist in Brooklyn, NY, provided some safety considerations to keep in mind.
“People who choose to try intermittent fasting should eat a well-balanced, minimally processed diet during limited feeding periods to ensure that their bodies are getting enough nutrients. Second, the main side effects of intermittent fasting are hunger and low energy, so it is essential to listen to your body. If you reach extreme weakness in [or] If you feel dizzy, eat something, even a nutritious snack. ”
