To fast or not to fast

With the growing popularity of fasting, Dr Becky Howie explains the most popular approaches and weighs up the benefits and risks

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that periods of fasting can offer significant benefits for our physical health. Understandably, many of us are intrigued by fasting, especially since the 5:2 diet gained popularity about ten to 15 years ago through the late Dr Michael Mosley’s work. This method, which involves eating no more than 500 to 600 calories on two non-consecutive days each week while enjoying normal meals on the other days, has helped many individuals achieve their weight-loss goals – as long as they avoid overindulging on non-fasting days to make up for any calorie deficit.