What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting means eating only during set hours or days. The most common version, 16:8, means eating within 8 hours and fasting for 16.
Quick facts
| Most common | 16:8 (eat within 8 hours) |
|---|---|
| Other styles | 5:2, alternate-day fasting |
| Main effect | Usually fewer calories eaten |
Intermittent fasting calculator
Pick a fasting schedule and see how much weight you might lose.
Try a sample:
What does it mean?
It works mostly by making it easier to eat less. In a 2022 trial, adding time-restricted eating to calorie counting didn't lead to extra weight loss over a year.
If it suits your schedule, it can be a simple way to stick to a deficit.
How does it show up when you order food?
With fewer meals, each one carries more of your day. Picking a filling, high-protein meal for your eating window makes the fast easier.