Nutritionists warn that this very popular food habit could actually be a camouflage eating disorder

Spend more than 30 seconds on Tiktok and you will hear fitness influencers singing praises of intermittent fasting. The diet plan is touted as a “lifestyle change” rather than a diet, where people consume calories in a 16:8 plan (16 hours; eight hours of normal diet), a 5:2 plan (five days of normal diet; two days soon) or other changes.

The so-called benefits of intermittent fasting are many: it can inhibit late-night diets, reduce inflammation, reduce diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (such as the risk of chronic diseases), improve intestinal health, and of course lead to weight loss.

However, intermittent fasting can lead to slippery slopes for people who may be suffering from dietary inadequateness.

An estimated 9% of the United States (about 28.8 million people) will suffer from eating disorders throughout their lives. Although eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia must meet the specific diagnostic criteria outlined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, diets with confusion may be suitable for people with physical image problems, dieting and/or psychological distress around food. People with disordered dietary behaviors may be hidden behind popular diets and health trends such as intermittent fasting, which provides the perfect coverage for restrictive diets.

This is an acceptable disguise

Most people will be worried about hearing a friend say they are hungry, but no one will have eyes with intermittent fasting.

“Intermittent fasting can sometimes serve as an acceptable disguise for socially disordered dietary behavior,” said Becky Mehr, a registered nutritionist at the outpatient nutrition center of Renfrew Center, a network of eating disorder treatment facilities.

“Although it is often used as a tool to lose weight, improve metabolic health or simplify dietary patterns, it can become a problem, especially for those with a history of eating disorders,” she said.

Mehr explains that since the scheduled fasting requires skipping meals and neglecting hunger clues, it hides your disorderly diet without attracting attention. In fact, it can promote the opposite: praise for weight loss or “perceived discipline” can enhance harmful behavior.

“Our bodies are not machines or calculators – they don’t thrive in terms of rigid calorie limits or nourishment from time limits,” Mehr added.

Is it worth the risk?

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“For those who are genetically and environmentally susceptible to developing eating disorders, any form of caloric restriction or compliance with strict food rules, including intermittent fasting, greatly increases the risk,” Anne Marie O’Melia, chief clinical and quality officer at the Center for Diet Recovery, told the Hoff Soup Letter.

In fact, recent research has shown that many young women participating in intermittent fasting have characteristics of eating disordered behaviors such as overeating, overeating, vomiting, laxatives, use, compulsive exercise, and fasting.

“We know that dieting and restrictions are the number one predictor of onset of eating disorders, especially among adolescents and young people,” Omelia explained. “The commitment to short-term benefits such as weight loss or metabolic changes is evident compared to real and devastating risks: Eating disorders have significant psychiatric and medical consequences, and have the highest mortality rate among mental illnesses.”

She added that intermittent fasting “seems harmless or even beneficial at first, but for too many people it is a gateway to a long-term, life-threatening battle with food and the body.”

Bottom line: The potential benefits of intermittent fasting do not outweigh the risk of developing or worsening eating disorders.

Depend on your mentality

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So, how do you know if it is safe to try intermittent fasting? Our experts share this all in your mind, or more specifically, your mindset.

“The key difference is mentality, intention and the impact on your daily life,” Mel said. If you are able to fast intermittently without the obsession with food or body image and without the strict food rules that undermine your daily operations, that’s OK. For everyone else, it can quickly rotate into disorderly diets.

O’Melia said it might seem like “a way to break the ‘rules’ anxiety, obsession with food, shame about eating, avoid social activities involving food or control weight at all costs”.

“No one thought of ‘I want to develop an eating disorder’, but for people with certain genetic, psychological and environmental risk factors, seemingly healthy choices can unintentionally bring dangerous patterns,” Omelia said.

Signs of intermittent fasting are triggering disordered diets include:

• Compensational behaviors, such as excessive exercise or clearance.

• Avoid social meals that are not part of your diet window.

• Increase attention to food, body image, or weight.

• Low energy, emotional disturbance, sleep problems or concentration troubles.

• Eat only “safe” or “healthy” foods.

• Eat isolated; keep it confidential or hide dietary behavior.

• Symptoms of overeating, feeling of losing control while eating.

• If you eat outside the “allowed” window, you will feel anxious, introverted or shamed.

• Meet medical problems such as fainting, amenorrhea, gastrointestinal distress or fatigue, dizziness, weakness, irritability, or obsession with food.

• Negative responses to expressions of concerns about behavioral changes or emotionally reactive responses.

• Any other or increased behavior that may be associated with eating disorders, such as the use of laxatives, changes in exercise patterns, setting food rules, and content involves the type of food, not just the era of eating food.

• If fasting starts to feel like an obligation rather than a choice, or affects your ability to enjoy life, it may be time to reevaluate.

“Remember, the human body is very complex and it thrives when it is subject to compassion rather than punishment,” Omelia said.

Who shouldn’t fast intermittently?

Mehr said “most people” should not engage in intermittent fasting, especially those with eating disorders, mental health struggles or nutritional deficiency. ”

“Anyone with a personal history or important family history of eating disorders, eating disorders, physical malformations, anxiety or depression, a history of trauma or compulsive exercise patterns should avoid intermittent fasting,” Omelia added.

Intermittent fasting is not for you if you have a fragile relationship with food and may be subject to self-imposed rules or restrictions on when to eat.

“Our bodies are designed to let us know when we need fuel,” Mehr explains. “Ignoring these clues can lead to food, interrupted metabolic and emotional distress. [Intermittent fasting] It’s like telling someone to use the bathroom only for some hours – it creates fixation, not freedom. ”

Our experts agree that no one should conduct intermittent fasting without close guidance from their healthcare providers.

Try it

Our experts quickly slammed any structured diet or food group restrictions (besides allergies).

“Eating should be a source of nutrition and pleasure, not a battlefield,” Omelia explained. “I encourage patients to focus on balanced meals, diversity, satisfaction and listening to their bodies.”

Both experts recommend listening to intuitive diets of hunger and fullness cues. This includes eating multiple foods without in-gui (yes, dessert!); respecting physical diversity; participating in joyful exercises; managing stress and getting enough sleep; and focusing on physical health, emotional and social health. And stay gentle with yourself when learning to develop your ideals with a toxic diet.

“Food is not just fuel; it’s joy, connection, culture and comfort,” Mel said. “Healthy eating patterns all respect the needs of the body and life experience.”

“We should learn to trust our bodies, not listen to external rules,” Mehr added. “All bodies are different. All bodies are valuable. Food should never be the source of shame or punishment.”

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please call or text 988 or CHAT 988LIFELINE.org for support. This article originally appeared in Huffpost.

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