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Comment by puchatek | Hacker News Reader

You're completely discounting the effects of fasting on insulin levels. Low levels of insulin are correlated with higher rates of lipid oxidisation.

Not that this effect will outweigh e.g. an additional banana you devour because you're famished after fasting. But it is there. Counting calories is a good help in making sure you don't nullify it.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-a...)

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Sure, but how much effect do all those "side effects" have in comparison to a significant calorie deficit or surplus? How applicable are those effect to the average person who wants to keep their eating to something relatively simple?

Do you think that any of those effects will be enough to maintain your weight if you consistently eat a 500 calorie surplus?

My issue is that a lot of people start doing "intermittent fasting" (less than 3 days) thinking they can eat all they want during the eating period, and that they will benefit from the fasting health effects shown in mice studies, but neither is true.

I would be very surprised if 500 kcal didn't register because of IF. Is that the claim though? I've been doing 5:2 for years and there they say "eat normally" on the off days. Don't overeat/compensate.

So intermittent fasting for ease of compliance? Yes, that I agree with. As stated above my issue is to let people believe they can eat all the food they want as long as they follow a magic schedule.

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