Intermittent fasting, described as fasting for greater than 8 hours at a time, is a dietary trend that continues to grow in popularity.
While it is purported to positively affect one’s long- and short-term health, and many use this behavior to control or lose weight, few have examined its potential harm.
In a study from the University of Toronto, scientists found that intermittent fasting may not be as safe as once believed.
They analyzed data from over 2,700 adolescents and young adults and found that intermittent fasting was linked to all disordered eating behaviors for women, including binge eating, and compensatory behaviors like vomiting and compulsive exercise.
Among men, those who engaged in intermittent fasting were more likely to report compulsive exercise.
The team also found the prevalence of intermittent fasting behaviors among adolescents and young adults was notable.
In total, 47% of women, 38% of men, and 52% of transgender or gender non-conforming people reported engaging in intermittent fasting in the past 12 months.
In all three groups, participants reported an average of 100 days where they engaged in intermittent fasting over the past 12 months.
The team says the associations found between intermittent fasting and eating disorder behaviors are particularly salient, given the significant increase in eating disorders among adolescents and young adults since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The findings provide a warning to healthcare professionals about recommending intermittent fasting as a means of weight loss, as it may facilitate eating disorder attitudes and behaviors.
The team says people need more education in healthcare settings and greater awareness in popular culture, including social media, of the potential harms of intermittent fasting
At this point, the proposed benefits are still unclear and unsupported by research, and the potential harms are becoming clearer.
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The study was conducted by Kyle T. Ganson et al and published in Eating Behaviors.
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