# Thoughts on intermittent fasting **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434 "2018-05-01T21:38:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/1 "2018-05-01T21:38:12Z")
A friend of mine was talking about her program of intermittent fasting. I guess the idea is that you fast from 8pm until noon, then you can eat normally lunch and dinner, but stop eating again at 8pm. She said you can drink water while fasting…I was a bit dubious, since part of the idea as she was telling it is that digestion takes energy, and if you are fasting that energy goes to cellular repair and other stuff along those lines. So, any 'dope on this? Does it actually do anything? I know there has been a lot about low calorie diets extending life and helping with things like cancer (supposedly), but no idea about this intermittent fasting. Would it be helpful at all? I am pretty sure that a low calorie diet isn’t ever going to happen in my life, but I could actually do this intermittent fasting where I basically just skip breakfast (I already don’t eat after about 7pm for other reasons). ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/2 "2018-05-01T21:57:18Z")
[Weight-Loss Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intermittent Energy Restriction Trials Lasting a Minimum of 6 Months](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4924195/) > [@](#): > > The results of this systematic review of the available literature provides evidence that whilst IER is not superior to CER [Continuous Energy Restriction like typical low calorie diets without fasting periods], it is as effective for weight loss. > [@](#): > > Currently there is insufficient data to support the notion that IER (in any form) can affect CVD [cardio vascular disease] risk markers (i.e., blood pressure and blood lipid levels) or insulin and glucose to a greater extent than that seen with CER. Moreover, changes in HbA1c or insulin sensitivity levels beyond weight loss have not been established. > [@](#): > > This review confirms that in the little long term evidence available, IER achieves weight loss but there was no evidence that it provided superior management in comparison to CER . Furthermore dropout rates were similar in the IER and CER arms of the included studies, suggesting that long term adherence to IER may be similar to CER and therefore present a successful alternative for individuals who find CER too restrictive in dietary choices during weight reduction. So it works about as well for weight loss as more traditional diets. Some of the other typical health claims aren’t supported at this time. Fasting doesn’t seem to be a magic bullet that’s better than just restricting calories without fasting. If you think it’s easier for you to stick to, it’s not worse either. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/3 "2018-05-01T21:58:39Z")
I’m sorry I don’t have a GQ answer, but I’ve been doing essentially this to lose weight, starting last year. I skip breakfast, eat a _light_ lunch, and a sensible dinner. I don’t really count calories that closely, but to the extent I pay attention, I try to keep breakfast+lunch under 500 calories, then dinner under 1000. I usually do have a small portion of ice cream or maybe some kind of salty snack later in the evening. Now that I’ve hit my target weight, I’ve relaxed my rules a little, but I fall back to them for a week or so if I start to see my weight going up over what I want it to be. I don’t know if there’s any mechanism to it beyond just lowering your calorie intake, but it seems to have worked for me. I went from about 192 to about 162 in a little over three months. ---
**Author:** ![mikeb33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@mikeb33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeb33)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/4 "2018-05-01T22:03:38Z")
I saw something on TV where there were 2 groups of mice and both were fed the same calorie intake. The difference was one group was fed all the calories in an 8 hour span and the others were fed 3 times every 8 hours. The 3 times fed group were heavier and more lethargic than the group eating within the 8 hour window. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/5 "2018-05-01T22:24:19Z")
Some previous threads that may have some useful information. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=797168](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=797168) [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=829359](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=829359) [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=835419](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=835419) [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=848126](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=848126) ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-intermittent-fasting/813434/6 "2018-05-01T22:54:09Z")
I had a great experience with intermittent fasting for a few weeks. A latte at 8AM, some fruit at 3PM, and a big dinner around 7. After the first few days, I had no problem with hunger. I even did a bit of fasted cardio, but obv, got better results when my jog happened AFTER the fruit. I’ve had to bump up my calorie goal, so I’m back to normal meals, but I feel a lot hungrier. I’d like to try fasting again.