Adults should not start a water-only fast without seeking professional medical advice before-hand, experts have strongly recommended.
Specialists from the University of Sydney have said people with existing heart or vascular condi-tions should especially speak with a healthcare professional before attempting a water-only fast.
Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food, and sometimes drink, for a period of time.
In recent years, fasting diets have increased in popularity due to their fast weight loss results.
First author Professor Luigi Fontana said: “Our hypothesis was that prolonged water-fasting would reduce inflammation in the body.
“However, we found the opposite was true – that prolonged fasting put stress on the body and increased the number of pro-inflammatory proteins in the blood, potentially increasing the risk of health issues for people with existing heart and vascular conditions.”
A total of 20 adults took part in the study by following a 10-day water-only fast followed by five days of refeeding, in which time the researchers observed their health.
On average, participants lost roughly 7.7% of their body weight from the fast, the research has revealed.
However, the participants also experienced headaches, low blood pressure and insomnia as a result of the fast, the study has reported.
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Professor Fontana explained: “People are looking for effective ways to manage their weight and while the effects of water-only fasting can be dramatic, more work needs to be done to under-stand the impact of these diets on the body over a longer period of time.
“For people with existing health conditions – especially heart and vascular issues – we strongly recommend that they speak to their doctor before trying out fasting diets.”
To read the study, click here.
