Can intermittent fasting help in weight loss?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 34 year old female. Could you tell me about intermittent fasting? What is intermittent fasting? How does it help in the rejuvenation of the body? What are the potential benefits of this fasting? What are the different methods of implementation, and important considerations for those considering this dietary strategy?

Kindly suggest.

Answered by Sumiya Sulthana

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Thank you for posting your query.

Intermittent fasting plan: Before you begin intermittent fasting, consult your doctor. Once you have his or her approval, the actual practice is straightforward. You can take a daily strategy, limiting your eating to one six- to eight-hour period every day. For example, you could try 16/8 fasting, which involves eating for eight hours and fasting for sixteen. Although some people find it easier to adhere to this routine in the long run, a study that was not explicitly designed to look at an intermittent fasting pattern discovered that reducing your daily eating window does not prevent weight gain over time or produce significant weight loss benefits. The study's findings suggested that eating fewer large meals or more short meals may be connected with preventing weight gain or even weight loss over time.

Another intermittent fasting strategy, the 5:2 technique, entails eating five days per week. You limit yourself to one 500-600 calorie lunch for the remaining two days. For example, suppose you choose to eat normally every day of the week except Mondays and Thursdays, which are one-meal days. Longer periods without eating, such as 24-, 36-, 48-, and 72-hour fasts, are not always beneficial and may even be deadly. Going too long without eating may cause your body to begin storing extra fat in response to famine. According to Mattson's studies, the body can take two to four weeks to adjust to intermittent fasting. You may feel hungry or grumpy as you adjust to the new regimen. However, he finds that research subjects who make it through the adjustment stage are more likely to continue to the plan because they feel better. When you are not eating, you can drink water and zero-calorie beverages such as black coffee and tea. During your eating intervals, "eating normally" does not imply going crazy. According to research, packing your feeding times with high-calorie junk food, super-sized fried dishes, and desserts is unlikely to help you lose weight or become healthy. However, other experts prefer intermittent fasting since it allows for the consumption and enjoyment of a wide variety of foods. Sharing good, nutritious meals with others and relishing the mealtime experience enhances satisfaction and promotes health.

Feel free to follow up with any additional questions or concerns.

Regards.

Answered bySumiya Sulthana

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At August 14, 2024
Reviewed AtAugust 14, 2024

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