Fasting for a week:
- Causes significant changes in protein levels across various organs.
- May have health benefits beyond weight loss, but only after 3 days.
- Switches energy source from glucose to fat after 2-3 days.
- Average weight loss of 5.7 kg (fat and muscle), with most fat loss sustained after 3 days of eating.
Implications:
- Provides insights into the molecular basis of fasting’s health effects.
- Paves the way for developing alternative treatments based on fasting benefits.
- Confirms historical use of fasting for specific health conditions.
Not to mention these results could provide some very dangerous ideas to those with eating disorders (diagnosed or not). Losing 5.7kg (12lb) in three days sounds insanely dangerous. Going for very long is hella dangerous because you’re not getting necessary nutrition. That’s why there’s a minimum calorie intake for dieting and it is dangerous to go below that.
Medical professional here. This is crazy. This is starving your body, I do not recommend.
Researchers followed 12 healthy volunteers taking part in a seven-day water-only fast. The volunteers were monitored closely on a daily basis to record changes in the levels of around 3,000 proteins in their blood before, during, and after the fast. By identifying which proteins are involved in the body’s response, the researchers could then predict potential health outcomes of prolonged fasting by integrating genetic information from large-scale studies.
But what about the potential health benefits?
The body believes it is starving after 24 hours and begins to eat itself. The risks far outweigh the benefits. Have to lose weight the real way, diet and exercise.
Yeah as someone who is working on building a healthier relationship with food, this struck me too. It’s absolutely super tempting to lose a lot of weight fast, but I’m firm in my belief that if I want to have results that stick, my attitude towards food needs to change. It’s honestly going really well too.
I am genuinely glad to hear that! Because I know it is really hard (from experience; still working on it)
I’ve a feeling it’s probably a thing that one will have to remain cognisant of indefinitely. I’m just glad it’s a fucked up relationship with food rather than something like a sugar addiction, because that seems really tough to handle. Best of luck to us both, I’m sure we can do it! 🥳
Yes we can!
Since it looks like you didn’t read the article. It’s not a 3 day study. 5.8 kg in 3 days is terrifying but it’s not what happened.
Researchers followed 12 healthy volunteers taking part in a seven-day water-only fast. The volunteers were monitored closely on a daily basis to record changes in the levels of around 3,000 proteins in their blood before, during, and after the fast. By identifying which proteins are involved in the body’s response, the researchers could then predict potential health outcomes of prolonged fasting by integrating genetic information from large-scale studies.
Researchers followed 12 healthy volunteers taking part in a seven-day water-only fast. The volunteers were monitored closely on a daily basis to record changes in the levels of around 3,000 proteins in their blood before, during, and after the fast. By identifying which proteins are involved in the body’s response, the researchers could then predict potential health outcomes of prolonged fasting by integrating genetic information from large-scale studies.