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Comment by strangescript | Hacker News Reader

"We show that a 3-day fast results in increases in circulating lipids and insulin resistance in subjects expressing a high or low proportion of type I muscle fibers. High expression of type I is associated with a higher capacity to oxidize lipids and a greater loss of insulin sensitivity after starvation."

Higher triglycerides and lower insulin sensitivity is no bueno right? There are a few youtube health influencers in the minority that have suggested fasting is not good for you long term, including intermittent fasting.

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>There are a few youtube health influencers in the minority that have suggested fasting is not good for you long term, including intermittent fasting.

Peter Attia was one of the biggest proponents of fasting, and did regular TRF along with periodic multi-day water-only fasts, but stopped completely after his DEXA scans showed drastic muscle loss, even with regular strength training. Multiple studies have shown that when used as a weight loss tool, it's no better than regular caloric restrictions, and that it actually results in worse body composition, skewing the weight loss towards muscle and away from fat: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullar...

>In this RCT, a prescription of TRE did not result in weight loss when compared with a control prescription of 3 meals per day. Time-restricted eating did not change any relevant metabolic markers. Finally, there was a decrease in ALM in the TRE group compared with CMT. Together, the results of this study (1) do not support the efficacy of TRE for weight loss, (2) highlight the importance of control interventions, and (3) offer caution about the potential effects of TRE on ALM. Future studies should be aimed at understanding the effects of early vs late TRE and protein intake or timing as a means to offset the loss in ALM.

ALM = Appendicular (i.e., limb) Lean Mass.

IF != TRF

> IF: He stopped doing 3-day fasts once per month and 7-day fasts once per quarter.

> TRF/TRE: restricting the daily eating window.

The study I linked to was specifically about TRF. Here's Attia on TRF, where he mentions the reduced insulin sensitivity side effect he sees in his TRF patients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6wczdlcBtI

I didn’t know that! I did TRF and it helped me reduce my weight but I also noticed a significant muscle loss. It made me a bit worried but I attributed it to my age. Now it seems it’s not simple as that! :’( Should I increase my protein intake and do more strength exercises to gain muscle again?

Stop fasting. It's a meme, just like keto. It's unbelievable how bad HNers are when it comes to diet and nutrition. And if you dare to call them on it, they'll eagerly downvote and flag you.

I believe in the context of cancer suppression (I'll never be able to find the episode again) he stated he would still consider fasting in that scenario.

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