Does intermittent fasting work?

Intermittent fasting has gained immense popularity worldwide as an effective method for weight control and improving overall well-being. The main mechanism of its operation lies in the natural reduction of the time window during which food intake is allowed, which automatically leads to a decrease in total daily calorie consumption.

It is important to understand that there is no mystical magic in the method itself, and weight loss occurs solely due to the energy deficit. If a person consumes an excess amount of calories from unhealthy foods during the eating window, weight will not decrease.

The most popular and easily tolerated intermittent fasting regime is the 16/8 schedule, where the fasting period lasts for sixteen hours, and an eight-hour window is allocated for meals. During the fasting period, only water, green tea, and black coffee without sugar and milk are allowed.

Despite its popularity, this approach is categorically unsuitable for certain categories of people. In particular, intermittent fasting is contraindicated for diabetes mellitus, a tendency toward eating disorders, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

If you are comfortable skipping breakfast and do not experience severe hunger in the mornings, you can try this regime for the convenience of planning your diet. The main thing is to monitor the quality and variety of foods during the allowed eating hours.