Wellness trends are rampant these days, giving rise to a massive industry that, according to Policy Advice, is valued at an astonishing $4 trillion. But beyond the buzzwords and dubious products, the wellness culture often revolves around the promise of weight loss, with fasting gaining popularity as a go-to method, especially after celebrity endorsements, like when Mia Johnson shared her personal fasting strategy.
“I try to keep my carb intake low,” the 35-year-old stated on a morning talk show. “I don’t exercise much, but I’m a dedicated faster. I ensure I fast for at least 14 hours between dinner and breakfast.”
But is fasting genuinely beneficial for health? While some claim it has advantages, the reality is that fasting embodies restriction. As health expert Tara Reynolds emphasized on social media, it can be categorized as a form of disordered eating, plain and simple.
You might wonder: disordered eating? That seems extreme. Why should we be concerned with someone else’s dietary choices? After all, Mia is free to make her own decisions. And you’re partially correct. She certainly has the right to choose her path. However, fasting is fundamentally about limiting food intake. Any regimen that enforces strict rules around eating—whether it involves food types or timing—falls into the realm of disordered eating, merely dressed up as a “healthy” lifestyle.
Reynolds continued to clarify her stance. “Detoxes are unnecessary for individuals with a functioning liver; our bodies detoxify without requiring additional products. I’ve written about this before because people need to understand the truth. None of this is essential.” Yet, millions still chase these ideals. I did too.
For years, I limited my calorie intake and cut out entire food groups—proteins, sugars, carbs. I experimented with juice cleanses and rigid eating schedules. I would finish dinner at 6:30 PM and not eat again until the next day after noon. It was just water and black coffee during that time. I suppressed my hunger with as much liquid as I could tolerate, which is far from normal. It’s unhealthy, no doubt. I did all this to conform to an ideal of thinness, believing that it was the only acceptable state.
“Strict food rules often trigger our bodies to perceive scarcity, leading to binge eating when we finally allow ourselves to eat,” noted registered dietitian Laura Harris in a recent article. “This can spiral into other disordered eating patterns, like orthorexia or an intense fear of consuming foods outside of set parameters. Such behaviors induce stress on the body, which is detrimental to health. Intermittent fasting frequently results in weight cycling, increasing disease risk.”
Nevertheless, proponents of fasting argue otherwise. According to Harvard Health, supporters claim it promotes faster weight loss and reduces inflammation along with heart disease risks. However, scientific evidence supporting these assertions is limited. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine revealed minimal benefits from fasting or intermittent fasting, showing little difference in outcomes for those who ate within an eight-hour window versus those who did not.
Moreover, an article on Psychology Today highlighted that fasting could actually harm health. “Numerous studies have found links between delayed eating and a higher likelihood of binge-eating episodes,” it stated.
So while fasting might seem like a quick and appealing solution for weight loss, it’s essential to approach it with caution. It can be risky, particularly for those with a history of disordered eating or a troubled relationship with food and body image.
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In conclusion, while fasting is often promoted as a trendy health hack, it can lead to harmful eating patterns and should be approached with caution.