Wednesday 23 November 2022 05:47 PM Intermittent fasting may RAISE your risk of an early death by 30%, study ... trends now

Intermittent fasting – one of the most popular and promoted dieting techniques – may actually raise the risk of an early death.

A study of 24,000 Americans over 40 found those who ate one meal per day were 30 per cent more likely to die from any cause in 15 years than those who ate three.

Skipping breakfast was linked to a higher risk of dying from heart disease, while missing lunch or breakfast appeared to raise the chance of all-cause mortality.

The results remained even if people exercised, ate healthily and rarely smoked or drank alcohol, the researchers claim.

They say fasters usually end up consuming a relatively large amount of food in one go, which over time may damage the body's cells.

The team caution it is still too early to say definitively that fasting played a role in the early deaths as they can't rule out other lifestyle and genetic factors.

Intermittent fasting - which means eating within a strict time window or skipping meals entirely - became one of hottest diet tools in the early 2010s. 

A-list celebrities such as Mark Wahlberg, Hugh Jackman, the Kardashians and Jennifer Aniston say it helped them lose weight or detox their bodies. 

Ironically, one of the main benefits cited by followers of the diet is longevity. It had previously been linked to a lower risk of multiple diseases.

The latest study, by researchers from the University of Tennessee, found that three meals per day was the sweet-spot for a longer life.

But the research found that eating them too close together was also linked to an increased risk of an early death.

Like their theory with fasting, the team believe eating too much too quickly puts metabolic strain on the body.