Title |
Safety of alternate day fasting and effect on disordered eating behaviors
|
---|---|
Published in |
Nutrition Journal, May 2015
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12937-015-0029-9 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Kristin K Hoddy, Cynthia M Kroeger, John F Trepanowski, Adrienne R Barnosky, Surabhi Bhutani, Krista A Varady |
Abstract |
Alternate day fasting (ADF; ad libitum intake "feed day" alternated with 75% restriction "fast day"), is effective for weight loss, but the safety of the diet has been questioned. Accordingly, this study examined occurrences of adverse events and eating disorder symptoms during ADF. Obese subjects (n = 59) participated in an 8-week ADF protocol where food was provided on the fast day. Body weight decreased (P < 0.0001) by 4.2 ± 0.3%. Some subjects reported constipation (17%), water retention (2%), dizziness (<20%), and general weakness (<15%). Bad breath doubled from baseline (14%) to post-treatment (29%), though not significantly. Depression and binge eating decreased (P < 0.01) with ADF. Purgative behavior and fear of fatness remained unchanged. ADF helped subjects increase (P < 0.01) restrictive eating and improve (P < 0.01) body image perception. Therefore, ADF produces minimal adverse outcomes, and has either benign or beneficial effects on eating disorder symptoms. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 9 | 24% |
Spain | 4 | 11% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 5% |
Argentina | 2 | 5% |
Mexico | 1 | 3% |
Comoros | 1 | 3% |
United Arab Emirates | 1 | 3% |
Brazil | 1 | 3% |
Sweden | 1 | 3% |
Other | 2 | 5% |
Unknown | 14 | 37% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 26 | 68% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 6 | 16% |
Scientists | 5 | 13% |
Unknown | 1 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Sweden | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 267 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 58 | 22% |
Student > Master | 40 | 15% |
Other | 18 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 18 | 7% |
Student > Postgraduate | 14 | 5% |
Other | 36 | 13% |
Unknown | 84 | 31% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 56 | 21% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 52 | 19% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 17 | 6% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 15 | 6% |
Psychology | 14 | 5% |
Other | 23 | 9% |
Unknown | 91 | 34% |