Intermittent fasting may help prevent type 2 diabetes

Fasting could help protect against type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to a new report published in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease.
Researchers at Aston University believe intermittent fasting can be as beneficial as bariatric surgery for treating obesity and lowering the risk of related conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Intermittent fasting involves restricting calorie intake every other day or just two days a week. This form of weight loss has been reported to assist weight loss, improve existing heart disease and prevent onset of new cardiovascular events.
According to the researchers, previous studies have also shown that it’s easier to adhere to this diet than it is to a general calorie-limiting diet .
“What we’ve done is to look at research that’s previously published and try and tie it all together,” lead author of the study, Dr James Brow, said. “We think people who are either pre-diabetic, or at risk of getting diabetes or heart disease, would benefit from this diet.”
The team at Aston University is now planning human clinical trials to confirm initial findings and investigate what impact fasting has on type 2 diabetes specifically.
“Whether intermittent fasting can be used as a tool to prevent diabetes in those individuals at high risk or to prevent progression in those recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes remains a tantalizing notion and we are currently in preparation for clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of this form of lifestyle intervention in various patient groups,” Dr Brown added.