Intermittent Fasting is Trendy… But Does it Work?
Diet trends come and go, but intermittent fasting, a form of dieting based around periods of non-eating followed by periods of concentrated eating, has somehow endured.
In 2020, it became the most popular form of dieting in the U.S., according to the Food Information Council’s Food and Health Survey, and it remains a significant part of diet culture. Proponents claim it can help with everything from weight loss to cholesterol and blood sugar management, despite some less than promising research. So does intermittent fasting really work? It’s a complicated question with an equally complicated answer, says Rachel Rodgers, an associate professor of applied psychology at Northeastern University.
Rodgers, who specializes in body image, disordered eating and health-related behaviors, spoke to Northeastern Global News about her skepticism around intermittent fasting, the issues with diets more generally and why modern food production has made eating in moderation nearly impossible. Her comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Excerpted from Medical Xpress
