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During the summer, the patients at Veritas Collaborative enjoy watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies. These furry little creatures go through a great deal of change in two short weeks, similar to the remarkable changes our patients make during their recovery process at the Veritas hospitals.

During the school year, child and adolescent patients are able to maintain progress in their coursework from their schools at home with the expert help from our Education Team. However, during the summer months, when most patients have completed their academics for the school year, we get to have a bit of fun in science and art.

Self-care can sometimes function as self-preservation; in your recovery, practicing self-care is a necessity and a healthy way to find peace and joy. In fact, regular self-care is critical to sustaining recovery from an eating disorder.

Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of acknowledging mental health as a shared human experience. A licensed mental health counselor supervisor and certified eating disorder specialist supervisor, Sara Hofmeier lives that mission every day as part of her effort to normalize mental health talk.

Kayla* was a 19-year-old art student who garnered the attention of her college professors and was thought of as a protégé in the expression of abstract images. She was quiet with pink streaks in her hair. She wore layers of clothes and sometimes seemed to disappear into her own internal world. Mentors at times wondered if she was too thin, but her work was impeccable, and they had no idea how to express their concern.

Kayla suffered a cardiac arrest in her studio at her art school on a Tuesday night, and with her, her art died. She had struggled with anorexia in high school and never fully recovered. Her relapse went unaddressed in a college environment, where her eating disorder gained strength in isolation and ultimately proved fatal. Eating disorders have a very high mortality rate relative to other mental health disorders, and they thrive on secrecy.

Is Intermittent Fasting Safe?

At Veritas Collaborative, we urge caution when considering intermittent fasting due to the numerous health risks associated with this dietary trend. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a range of negative physical and mental side effects of intermittent fasting, including but not limited to, hunger, headaches, and mood disturbances. The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting are still largely unconfirmed, with most research studies being limited in size and duration. Most concerning is the heightened risk of developing eating disorders, a serious issue that should not be overlooked. We strongly recommend consulting with healthcare professionals before embarking on any fasting regimen. Our stance, based on the evidence at hand, is that intermittent fasting poses significant risks and is not a universally safe approach to dieting or health improvement.

Understanding The Side Effects Of Fasting

At Veritas Collaborative, we urge caution when considering intermittent fasting due to the numerous health risks associated with this dietary trend. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a range of negative physical and mental side effects of intermittent fasting, including but not limited to, hunger, headaches, and mood disturbances. The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting are still largely unconfirmed, with most research studies being limited in size and duration. Most concerning is the heightened risk of developing eating disorders, a serious issue that should not be overlooked. We strongly recommend consulting with healthcare professionals before embarking on any fasting regimen. Our stance, based on the evidence at hand, is that intermittent fasting poses significant risks and is not a universally safe approach to dieting or health improvement.

Is Fasting Bad for You? The Side Effects of Intermittent Fasting

A favorite idea of diet culture is that weight loss is always good because being thin supposedly equals being healthy. We know this is not the case. But with intermittent fasting claiming to improve health and promote weight loss, it is not hard to see why diet culture has latched onto it. It is important to understand that diets have an effect on our minds as well as our bodies.

Is fasting bad for you? The following are some of the negative side effects of intermittent fasting:

1. Hunger and cravings
2. Headaches and lightheadedness
3. Digestive issues
4. Irritability and other mood changes
5. Fatigue and low energy
6. Bad breath
7. Sleep disturbances
8. Dehydration
9. Malnutrition

With this many downsides, the truth of whether fasting is bad for you should be readily apparent.

Research on Intermittent Fasting

You might think, “Not everyone experiences those symptoms,” or “Those symptoms are worth it if that means I’ll lose weight.” Despite the promises of weight loss, however, a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that “overweight” adults who fasted for 16-hour windows didn’t lose much more weight than the control group that did not fast, and most of the weight they did lose resulted from muscle loss. Long periods without eating can lead many people to overeat once the fasting period is over. One can see how this feels very similar to a restrict-binge cycle present in many eating disorders. The combined danger of fasting with the relatively low chances of achieving the effect you seek demonstrates that fasting is detrimental to your overall health in the short term. 

Is Fasting Good For You? 

The evidence of the long-term effectiveness and safety of intermittent fasting is still unknown. Many studies that have shown any improvement in certain health issues were done on rats, which limits what we know about the impact or positive side effects of intermittent fasting on humans. The majority of studies involving humans include only small sample sizes tracked over a short span of time. Many report measurable physiological outcomes like short-term weight loss, but they generally ignore any mental and emotional health effects, which is especially detrimental considering how closely linked weight loss and eating disorders can be. Several reports admit that fasting is not for everyone and include a generic recommendation to “check with a professional before starting any diet plan.” The reason intermittent fasting is detrimental is two-fold as it detracts from long-term goals and short-term well-being wellbeing at the same time.

Intermittent Fasting and Eating Disorders

Those who try intermittent fasting may be at greater risk for developing a severe eating disorder. Though eating disorders have no single cause, a key risk factor is dieting. Those who limit their eating to a small window could easily become hard on themselves for breaking their fast “too early” or eating “too late.” Any sort of anxiety or shame surrounding diet can be a warning sign of disordered behavior, which can lead to the development of an eating disorder in those susceptible. Depriving yourself of food for an extended period of time can also increase your stress levels, disrupt your sleep, increase anxiety and depression, and more. 

The trend of intermittent fasting may also be especially harmful for those experiencing or recovering from an eating disorder. Intermittent fasting may hide restrictive behavior and thereby prolong the identification and treatment of a disorder like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. It can also make eating disorder recovery much more challenging. Recovery is about reconnecting with your body and learning to tune into natural hunger cues, which is exactly what intermittent fasting asks people to ignore. 

Restrictive eating plans like intermittent fasting can be harmful to one’s mental health as well as one’s physical health. It can also be extra dangerous for those who are at risk of an eating disorder. These things are an essential part of the conversation surrounding intermittent fasting that should not be ignored.

Key Takeaways about Intermittent Fasting

• Challenging Diet Culture: The narrative that equates thinness with health is pervasive and often misleading. Intermittent fasting, despite its popularity, propagates this idea by promising improvements in health and weight loss, thereby reinforcing harmful diet culture stereotypes.
• Adverse Effects of Intermittent Fasting: Intermittent fasting can have several negative physical and mental consequences. These can range from feelings of hunger and cravings to physical discomforts such as headaches, lightheadedness, digestive problems, mood changes, fatigue, low energy, bad breath, and sleep disturbances. More severe issues may also include dehydration and malnutrition.
• Potential for Overeating: The study also noted a tendency for participants to overeat after fasting periods. This behavioral pattern mimics the restrict-binge cycle often seen in many eating disorders, raising concerns about the relationship between intermittent fasting and disordered eating habits.
• Unclear Long-Term Safety and Efficacy: The long-term safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting remain uncertain. While some studies on rats have shown improvements in certain health issues, these results don’t necessarily translate to humans. Most human studies to date have involved small sample sizes and short durations, often overlooking the mental and emotional health effects, muddying the picture of the combined health impact of intermittent fasting.
• Increased Risk of Eating Disorders: Intermittent fasting could potentially increase the risk of developing eating disorders. Anxiety or shame related to dieting can indicate disordered behavior, potentially leading to eating disorders in susceptible individuals. For those recovering from an eating disorder, intermittent fasting may also hide restrictive behavior, delay the identification and treatment of the disorder, and complicate recovery efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Intermittent Fasting

Is intermittent fasting a safe and effective way to lose weight?

To put it simply, intermittent fasting is not universally safe and may come with a range of negative physical and mental side effects. The long-term safety and effectiveness of this practice are still largely unconfirmed.

What are the potential negative side effects of intermittent fasting?

Some of the negative side effects include hunger, headaches, digestive issues, irritability, mood changes, fatigue, bad breath, sleep disturbances, dehydration, and malnutrition.

Can intermittent fasting lead to eating disorders?

Yes, the practice has been linked to an increased risk of developing eating disorders. Anxiety or shame related to dieting can indicate disordered behavior, potentially leading to eating disorders in susceptible individuals.

Are there any studies that support the safety of intermittent fasting?

While some studies suggest potential health benefits, these are often limited in scope and duration. Most human studies have involved small sample sizes and short durations, often overlooking the mental and emotional health effects. Therefore, the long-term safety and effectiveness remain uncertain.

Should I consult a healthcare professional before starting intermittent fasting?

Absolutely. Given the significant health risks associated with intermittent fasting, it is imperative to consult with healthcare professionals before attempting any form of fasting.

If you or a loved one is struggling with food or body image and need help, Veritas Collaborative is here for you. Give us a call at 1-855-875-5812 or complete our online contact form

Episode description:

Shikha Advani is an incoming master’s student and dietetic intern at Boston University who is passionate about eating disorders awareness, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nutrition and eating disorder fields. As a teenager, Shikha battled anorexia and orthorexia. She hopes her story can help others with eating disorders, no matter where they are in their recovery process.

The 10th Annual Veritas Collaborative Symposium on Eating Disorders, co-hosted by The Emily Program, will unite healthcare professionals and eating disorders experts around the theme of “Engaging Science, Unifying Voices, and Transforming Access.” In this article, Roberto Olivardia, PhD, a speaker at this year’s Symposium, examines the complex relationship between ADHD and eating disorders.

As we settle into the second half of 2021 and the world increasingly opens up, you might be experiencing a kaleidoscope of mixed emotions — happiness, relief, fear, anxiety. It can be overwhelming to re-engage with our former lives and transition into a lifestyle that we haven’t participated in for more than a year.

The concept of “swimsuit season” isn’t new, but this year’s swimsuit season is uncharted territory for all of us. Not only are we beginning to meet up with people that we haven’t seen in more than a year, but now we may be seen in swimsuits and other warm-weather clothing.

The Unique Roles Mothers Play While Facing Eating Disorders—Personally or Through Their Children

Mother’s Day celebrates the special role of moms and all that they do to support their families every day. While caring for others, moms facing an eating disorder experience a variety of unique challenges, whether caring for a child with an eating disorder or focusing on their own recovery journey.

By Anna Tanner, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS

Every year, eating disorder treatment centers across the country experience a significant uptick in phone calls during summer vacation and following the holidays, from parents who are worried their child may be struggling with an eating disorder.

Compassion to me is grace, kindness, patience, and motivation. Compassion helps us to relate to and identify with our patients. Connecting with others leads to increased motivation to help the other person achieve their goals as it relates to self-actualization or toward full recovery. A mentor of mine once shared that in order to experience an authentic therapeutic relationship with a patient, we must find one thing we value and appreciate about that individual. This has always been at the core of my therapeutic work with patients.

To do the kind of work that we do, we must have compassion. Compassion has also been shown to improve outcomes in healthcare and to improve one’s relationship with his or her healthcare provider. Providers must learn to regulate their own boundaries so as not to experience compassion fatigue.

Self-compassion is often the precursor to demonstrating compassion toward others. When we can demonstrate compassion toward ourselves, we model that for our teams and for our patients. It shows up when we say “I should have looked at this differently” and we have the ability to recognize that we are doing the best that we can and can give ourselves grace.

Compassion is showing up in an empathic way for a patient and for a family.

Compassion is being with the individual and saying “yes, I get it. . . I can relate to that” versus feeling sorry.

Compassion is showing the individual the path to recovery and providing them with the tools to start the journey versus doing it for them.

Everything that we do at our hospitals and centers models real life for our patients around us. Whether showing compassion toward a teammate or compassion toward a patient, we are role-modeling this core value for our patients who may not have had role models of this very important humanistic trait.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to define our “new normal”, it’s important to acknowledge the impact these times can have on individuals suffering from an untreated eating disorder, as well as those who are in recovery.

The holiday season is a wonderful and exciting time for families and friends to celebrate together. While many people look forward to the holiday season, this time of year can cause added stressors for individuals who are in recovery from an eating disorder.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and now more than ever, we need to examine how we can each play a role in decreasing suicide rates in the United States and beyond.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and on average, 129 individuals die by suicide each day. Individuals diagnosed with eating disorders are particularly vulnerable, with suicide rates for this population up to 31 times more than the suicide rate for the general population.

In the medical field, as well as in life, things are not always either black or white, but rather various shades of gray. In the past, providers have used growth charts, family history, and pubertal status to review development, growth spurts, pubertal status. In the early 1990’s Body Mass Index (BMI) became a new determinant of health yet BMI alone, without looking at growth patterns and growth spurts are not indicative of health: just as weight alone does not indicate or refute evidence of an eating disorder.

The Veritas Collaborative Symposium on Eating Disorders offers medical, mental, behavioral and other healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn from renowned experts in the eating disorder field. Steven Tsao, Ph.D., a keynote speaker at this year’s symposium, walks us through the complex comorbid relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders and how to properly diagnose and treat these two disorders.

The anticipation of summer – the warmer weather, vacations, and possibly changes in routine – can induce anxieties for those in recovery from an eating disorder, making it that much more important to practice regular self-care during the summer months.

June 2 marks World Eating Disorders Action Day when members of the eating disorder community – affected individuals, families, friends, professionals, researchers, and policymakers – unite virtually to increase access to accurate information, debunk myths and advocate for resources and policy change. This year, the focus is “Eating Disorders Can’t Afford to Wait” and we are joining in on the conversation.