Intermittent fasting periodically comes around as a solution for reducing weight gain. A new assessment, from Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, reveals that this stop-start approach to dieting offers little advantage over traditional dieting. The study also raises questions about the safety, sustainability, and effectiveness of intermittent fasting for weight loss.
Considering the research, Michael Banis from the organisation Eating Disorder Solutions explains to Digital Journal how restrictive eating patterns, even those framed as wellness, can escalate into disordered behaviours. The organisation highlights the similarities, the risks for vulnerable groups, and why awareness is key to preventing dieting habits from turning into serious eating disorders.
A comprehensive review of 22 previous studies involving nearly 2,000 adults found that short-term intermittent fasting, lasting up to 12 months, provides little to no advantage over standard dietary advice or no advice at all for weight loss.
The findings, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews “Intermittent fasting for adults with overweight or obesity” also show minimal impact on quality of life, though more research is needed to evaluate other health outcomes, including effects on type 2 diabetes and underlying conditions.
The main findings are, as reviewed by the British Medical Journal:
- Weight Loss Efficacy: Intermittent fasting results in similar weight loss to continuous energy restriction (traditional dieting). Compared to no intervention, it may yield slightly better results, but it does not “outperform” standard dietary advice.
- Quality of Life: There is little to no difference in quality of life between intermittent fasting and traditional diets.
- Safety: Evidence regarding adverse events is very uncertain, with studies reporting, among other things, mild symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
- Sustainability: The review indicates that many people find it difficult to maintain weight loss beyond 12 months, regardless of whether they use intermittent fasting or traditional calorie restriction.
- Evidence Certainty: The certainty of the evidence is deemed low to very low due to risks of bias and inconsistency across studies.
In light of this, Banis says that it is important for the public to understand when restrictive eating becomes compulsive and how to recognize early warning signs before serious physical or psychological consequences develop.
What Is Intermittent Fasting and Why It Became Popular
Intermittent fasting is a dietary approach that restricts eating to certain times or days. Popular variations include:
- Eating only during a set period each day
- Fasting on specific days of the week
- Alternating between normal eating days and very low-calorie days
The method, Banis states, has gained traction in recent years through social media, celebrity endorsements, and wellness communities promising quick results. However, the Cochrane review highlights that its effects are comparable to standard, balanced dietary approaches, challenging claims that fasting is a superior or sustainable weight-loss strategy.
Banis explains further: “Intermittent fasting can be risky for vulnerable individuals, including those with a history of eating disorders, low body weight, or metabolic concerns. Restrictive protocols can quickly become compulsive, leading to cycles of guilt, anxiety, or binge eating. Patients may feel pressure to stick rigidly to fasting schedules, which can harm mood, energy, and overall well-being.”
How Intermittent Fasting Behaviours Can Resemble Disordered Eating
According to Banis:
- Restricting or skipping meals according to strict schedules can mimic patterns seen in disordered eating.
- Obsessive focus on timing, calories, or “perfect” adherence may create stress or anxiety around food.
- Guilt or shame when fasting windows are missed can mirror emotional patterns in disordered eating.
- Social withdrawal or avoidance of meals with others to adhere to fasting rules.
- Compulsive behaviours such as over-exercising or overcompensating for calories outside fasting periods.
- Preoccupation with body image, weight control, or food intake that drives daily decisions.
- Using fasting as a socially acceptable justification for extreme restriction or harmful patterns.
Moreover, Banis notes, dieting trends, including intermittent fasting, can sometimes initiate cycles of disordered eating. Restrictive eating patterns may start casually but can escalate into behaviours like bingeing, purging, or obsessive calorie counting.
At the same time, Banis clarifies, individuals who already have an eating disorder may use popular diets like intermittent fasting to justify or reinforce unhealthy habits, giving a socially acceptable framework to extreme restriction or compulsive behaviours.
Over time, these patterns can both trigger new eating disorders in vulnerable individuals and exacerbate existing conditions. Recognizing early warning signs and seeking guidance from professionals is essential to prevent temporary dieting behaviours from evolving into long-term physical or psychological health concerns.
Banis returns to the new research: “Intermittent fasting offers little to no advantage over traditional approaches for weight loss or overall quality of life. While it has gained popularity as a quick and structured diet trend, studies suggest that its benefits are comparable to standard calorie control or balanced eating, highlighting that no single restrictive approach is inherently superior.”
The activity carries risks for some: “Despite this, fasting can still pose risks for certain individuals. We often see patients who use strict fasting schedules to justify extreme restriction or compulsive behaviours, which can trigger cycles of disordered eating. In some cases, what begins as an experiment in wellness can evolve into harmful patterns that affect physical health, emotional well-being, and social functioning.”
