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Fasting - the ultimate diet?

A M Johnstone1

  • 1Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK. A.Johnstone@rowett.ac.uk

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|April 21, 2007
PubMed
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Fasting can lead to weight loss, but its long-term effectiveness and psychological impacts require further study. This review examines the physiological and psychological effects of acute fasting for weight management.

Area of Science:

  • Human physiology
  • Nutritional science
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Adults engage in acute fasting for various reasons, including weight control, with 14% of US adults reporting its use.
  • Historical data from extreme food restriction (hunger strikes, famine, POWs) offer insights into starvation adaptation.
  • Fasting for 40 days is physiologically possible for healthy adults, but short- and long-term effects are less documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effectiveness of fasting as a weight-loss therapy.
  • To assess the psychological impact of fasting on individuals.
  • To determine the long-term efficacy of fasting regimens.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical data on starvation and semi-starvation.
  • Analysis of documented medical reports on food restriction.

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  • Synthesis of existing knowledge on physiological adaptation to fasting.

    • Main Results:

    • Fasting is a common practice for weight management.
    • Historical data reveal how the body adapts to prolonged starvation.
    • The specific short-term and long-term effects on body and mind are not fully documented.

    Conclusions:

    • Fasting's effectiveness for weight loss needs comprehensive evaluation.
    • The psychological effects of fasting require further investigation.
    • Long-term success of fasting as a weight-loss strategy remains uncertain.