Is doing “nothing” the answer to American metabolic health: reviewing the benefits of fasting.

Authors

Ronald P. Mack Jr, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

Advisor

Elijah Salzer, DMSc, PA-C, NYSAFE, C-EFM

Abstract

Obesity rates (BMI > 30kg/m2) are rapidly increasing in United States adults and are associated with a multitude of health problems. (Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer).¹ Nutritional guidance and lifestyle changes have had dismal success and less than 20% of Americans who lose weight can maintain weight loss for > 1 year.² Newer medications such as Glucagon-like peptide -1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) have been effective but most patients are referred to surgery for treatment.³ Fasting and time-restricted eating (TRE) (ad libitum caloric intake restricted to 4-12 h/d) have shown to be an effective long-term strategy for maintaining weight loss.⁴ physiologists have demonstrated that fasting impacts gene expression, such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). It promotes the autophagy of damaged and senescent cells and can decrease inflammation.⁵ Mouse models have shown that fasting increased life span and eliminated measurable elements of metabolic syndrome (MS) (Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, Low HDL cholesterol and increased abdominal adiposity). ⁶

Recommended Citation

Mack RP. Is doing “nothing” the answer to American metabolic health: reviewing the benefits of fasting.. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2022; 4(4).