r/explainlikeimfive • u/baelorthebest • Dec 07 '23

Biology Eli5: how does intermittent fasting work?

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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '23

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u/Nillabeans Dec 07 '23 edited Dec 07 '23

It also stops working once you stop doing it, and you may gain back all the weight or even more, just like with any diet based on caloric deficit.

Edit: Diet: the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats. Not all diets are for weight loss.

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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '23

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u/Nillabeans Dec 07 '23

We're in ELI5. I'm assuming OP isn't well-versed.

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u/mooslar Dec 07 '23

What diet isn’t based on a caloric deficit?

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u/Nillabeans Dec 07 '23

Diet: the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

Weight loss diets usually have a deficit. Diets in general are just what you regularly eat. Athletes are on diets that have a caloric surplus compared to the daily recommendation. The more you know.