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Should everyone do intermittent fasting?🤔 In almost every nutrition class I teach, someone asks about intermittent fasting. Many learners come to my classes with prior knowledge about food and nutrition. They gain this knowledge from friends, social media, podcasts, books, and online influencers. One topic that consistently stands out is intermittent fasting. 💡 Some people believe it is a powerful tool that can solve almost every health problem. Others cite the discovery of autophagy and Nobel Prize-winning research as proof that fasting must be beneficial for everyone. I agree that intermittent fasting can be a useful strategy for some individuals, particularly those struggling with metabolic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and hypertension. When applied appropriately, it may help improve metabolic health, appetite regulation, and eating habits. However, a tool that benefits one person may not benefit everyone❗️ In my experience, some people become so focused on fasting that they begin to view food as the enemy. They spend more time thinking about when not to eat than about what they should eat. This is where problems can arise. Intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone, especially when practiced in extreme forms such as OMAD (One Meal A Day) or very narrow eating windows such as 20:4. Certain groups should exercise particular caution, including: • Individuals recovering from surgery, illness, or major medical treatments, as their bodies often require additional energy and nutrients for healing. • People with existing nutrient deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, or undernutrition, where prolonged fasting may further reduce nutrient intake. • Individuals with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating behaviours, as fasting may worsen unhealthy relationships with food. • Children and teenagers, who are still growing and developing and generally require regular access to energy and nutrients to support healthy growth. The key question is not whether intermittent fasting works. The better question is: Who is it appropriate for, and under what circumstances? Nutrition is rarely one-size-fits-all. The goal should not be to copy the latest trend but to find an eating pattern that supports your health, lifestyle, medical condition, and long-term wellbeing.❤️ Sometimes that may include intermittent fasting. Sometimes it may not. And that is perfectly okay. 🩷Enjoy discussions like this? Click the button below or the link in the first comment and join our community. #IntermittentFasting #NutritionEducation #FoodLiteracy #HealthyEating #EvidenceBasedNutrition #CriticalThinking #WellnessForAll #DrTanSzeSze