The ancient habit of fasting may be a good way to lose weight, researchers report today.
Cutting calories to a minimum for a day or two has become a popular dieting fashion.
The new study says it may help people grappling with problems of obesity and the onset of diabetes.
Experts said people should take care before adopting fasting as a way to lose weight.
In religious tradition fasting lasts for up to 40 days. The Christian tradition of Lent helped people in northern countries cope with winter food stocks running out while during the Muslim Ramadan, participants are only allowed to eat during the hours of darkness.
The latest findings are due to be published in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease.
But Victoria Taylor, of the British Heart Foundation, said an ancient fable might provide a better guide to losing weight.
She said: “When it comes to traditional lifestyle changes versus the latest diets, it’s usually a case of the tortoise ultimately beating the hare.
"We need to find out whether people can stick to fasting regimes in the long run and what the long term benefits and risks of this might be.
"Being a healthy weight is an important part of helping to reduce heart disease risk, but don’t forget that getting the right balance of food groups and nutrients from your overall diet is also vital.
"If you’re considering fasting to control your weight, think carefully about how it might affect your normal activities and lifestyle and, especially if you’re taking prescribed medications, discuss plans with your doctor."
Intermittent fasting: a dietary intervention for prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease? British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease. 26 April 2013; doi: 10.1177/1474651413486496
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