Episode 259: Is Fasting Healthy or Just Another Diet Trend?

“Diet culture loves to exaggerate grains of truth and turn them into something extremely blown out of proportion.”

Fasting seems to be everywhere right now. From intermittent fasting to multi-day water fasts, social media is packed with bold claims about health, weight loss, longevity, and gut health. But what does the research actually say? And what often gets left out of the conversation?

In this episode, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on fasting through the lens of both a registered dietitian and someone who helps people heal their relationship with food. We’ll talk about the proposed health benefits, why short-term results don’t always tell the full story, and the concerns I have about fasting becoming just another socially acceptable form of dieting.

I’m also exploring the important nuance that gets overlooked online. While there may be situations where meal spacing can be helpful for certain health concerns, that’s very different from the restrictive fasting protocols many influencers promote. Most importantly, I want to help you think critically about how fasting might impact your relationship with food, your physical health, and your overall well-being.

What You’ll Learn:

• What the current research does (and doesn’t) tell us about fasting
• Why short-term health improvements don’t always translate into long-term results
• How fasting can affect food noise, binge eating risk, and your relationship with food
• Why many forms of fasting function as another form of calorie restriction
• When meal spacing may support gut health and how it differs from popular fasting trends
• Why the best approach to nutrition depends on your unique needs, health history, and relationship with food

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to eating. My hope is that this conversation helps you feel more informed, more grounded, and more confident in making decisions that support both your health and your relationship with food. As always, I’m proud of you for being here, learning, unlearning, and continuing to rebel against diet culture!

Resources:

• Grab the Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale and take your next step toward building trust with your body and food.
• Episode 207: What Diet Culture Gets Wrong About Gut Healthy (with Dr. Heather Finley)
• Connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.