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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice

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Published on: November 27, 2019

Does short-term fasting promote changes in state body image?

Katherine Schaumberg¹, Drew A Anderson¹

¹Department of Psychology, University at Albany - State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States.

|March 12, 2014

Summary

Fasting did not change body image overall in college students, but some showed improvement. Individual factors like disinhibition and frequent fasting predicted positive body image shifts.

Keywords:

Body image College students Dietary restraint Fasting

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Eating Disorders
Body Image Research

Background:

Fasting is linked to eating pathology in vulnerable populations.
Understanding the immediate effects of fasting on body image is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate acute body image changes following a 24-hour fast in college students.
To explore individual differences that may influence the fasting-body image relationship.

Main Methods:

186 college students completed the Body Image States Scale (BISS) before and after a 24-hour fast.
Eating-related measures and individual difference variables were assessed.

Main Results:

No significant overall change in BISS scores was observed post-fasting.
Baseline disinhibition and weekly fasting frequency predicted body image improvement in some participants.

Conclusions:

Acute fasting does not uniformly alter body image in college students.
Individual differences, such as disinhibition and fasting habits, may mediate the relationship between fasting and body image shifts.