2023-05-22 09:36:12
Adolescents and young adults who practice intermittent fasting are at increased risk for eating disorders and mental health issues, according to a Canadian study published in the journal Eating Behaviors. Pediatricians advise that it is better to use age-appropriate methods to lose weight.
Of 2,700 people aged 16 to 30, those who had practiced intermittent fasting in the past 12 months were more likely to have eating disorders than those who had not fasted. The eating disorders manifested themselves differently in the sexes: Men developed a compulsion to exercise more often, while women tended to have binge eating, ate uncontrollably, forced vomiting and used laxatives.
Because it’s an observational study, it doesn’t prove that intermittent fasting was the cause of the eating disorders. However, paediatricians warn against intermittent fasting in young people, because the body must be supplied with sufficient nutrients, especially during growth: If no food is consumed for a long period of time, hypoglycaemia can be the result. If the body does not get enough protein, it can also lead to muscle atrophy.
dr Monika Niehaus from the expert committee of the professional association of paediatricians advises: “If young people want to lose weight, programs that are specially tailored for this age group and that cover more areas are recommended in order to achieve a lifestyle change and weight normalization. Exercise, nutritional knowledge and nutritional behavior are all part of it.”
With intermittent fasting, you abstain from eating for hours or days. Many people follow the 16:8 fast, which involves only eating in an eight-hour window each day. Others use the 5:2 method, in which you eat very little (500-600 calories) two days a week, for five days without restrictions.
Which: DOI 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101681
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