title: Safety of alternate day fasting and effect on disordered eating behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alternate day fasting (ADF; ad libitum intake "feed day" alternated with 75% restriction "fast day"), is effective for weight loss, but the safety of the diet has been questioned. Accordingly, this study examined occurrences of adverse events and eating disorder symptoms during ADF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese subjects (n = 59) participated in an 8-week ADF protocol where food was provided on the fast day. Body weight decreased (P < 0.0001) by 4.2 ± 0.3%. Some subjects reported constipation (17%), water retention (2%), dizziness (<20%), and general weakness (<15%). Bad breath doubled from baseline (14%) to post-treatment (29%), though not significantly. Depression and binge eating decreased (P < 0.01) with ADF. Purgative behavior and fear of fatness remained unchanged. ADF helped subjects increase (P < 0.01) restrictive eating and improve (P < 0.01) body image perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, ADF produces minimal adverse outcomes, and has either benign or beneficial effects on eating disorder symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. khoddy2@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Kristin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hoddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. ckroeg@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kroeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. jtrepa2@uic.edu.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Trepanowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. abarno1@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Adrienne R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barnosky
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. sbhuta1@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Room 506 F, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. varady@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Krista A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Varady
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015431:Weight Loss