Ask HN: What do you guys think about intermittent fasting for losing weight | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What do you guys think about intermittent fasting for losing weight

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Research has revealed numerous benefits of Intermittent Fasting (IF) in mice and other laboratory animal studies. However, the prevailing opinion within the scientific community regarding its impact on human health, weight loss, and potential drawbacks remains a subject of inquiry. Is IF considered a healthy practice for humans? Does it effectively facilitate weight loss? Are there any associated disadvantages that need to be considered?

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As far as I can see, much unwanted weight gain is mandated by hormones. So I told my besty, who is 50, that she might blamelessly allow her waist to thicken, her hair to lose its redness and become grey. It's ok.

I sometimes wonder why so many people have so much trouble with their bodies and diet. It's obviously a really big problem for a lot of people and it very much upsets me, actually, that I have no such problems. I wonder why it's so hard for you. I wonder what it would be like for me if you were my brother or sister, and you had this kind of trouble.

I want to point out that in New Zealand, where I grew up among quite unremarkable children in a small city, only perhaps 1 child in 1000 was obviously obese. We had heard of neither obesity nor anorexia. I'm in my mid 60's.

Nowadays I organise my life for minimal stress and get fresh air and eat fresh food from a tropical market. Maybe that helps

> Is IF considered a healthy practice for humans?

I haven't seen anything that suggested it was _unhealthy_. As with all diet and fitness strategies, if it helps you limit caloric intake to your desired amount, it'll help you lose weight. It seems well documented as safe.

> Does it effectively facilitate weight loss?

The only way to facilitate weight loss is by restricting caloric intake. There's no magic to weight loss. No diet can outrun calories in vs. calories out.

> Are there any associated disadvantages that need to be considered?

Personally I think the line between IF and legitimate eating disorder is pretty thin, but I would also say the same about many fad diets. My 2c is to feel comfortable _not_ fasting for a day, if there's some kind of life event that doesn't fall within your window, and just pickup the next day.

People are different, it shows up in how they eat too. Someone may be uncomfortable doing IF but it may feel completely fine to another. I don't think passing a judgment of "eating disorder" is necessary.

Just like you’ve said, people are different. I’m comfortable acknowledging that I am different, potentially, in that I think refusing to eat for 2-5 days is disordered eating, regardless of whether it’s in the name of “intermittent fasting” or not.

Humans are ready to try anything (ANYTHING) to lose weight without doing exercises, and stop eating garbage.

  Can't eat garbage? I'll rather not eat anything! That will show 'em

On a different note, I can only offer you my uneducated opinion, from my armchair: fasting has been part of many cultures and religions since long time, and no one really considers them controversial, and doctors are not begging for example Muslims to stop fasting during Ramadan. But if you do it for weight loss, there are more efficient ways.

IF is great if during the times a person is not fasting they are only putting healthy molecules in their body that it actually needs.

Eat less.

Eat fewer carbs.

Eliminate sugar and wheat as much as possible.

Eat fruit instead of juice.

Exercise, mainly to avoid losing muscle mass while losing weight.

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