Religious and Traditional Fasting May Be an Alternative Method to Tackle Global Health Threats and the Epidemic of Obesity

Abstract

Intermittent fasting practices, recommended as a potential nutritional approach against obesity and metabolic diseases, have become increasingly widespread in recent years. Although convincing data on the anti-obesity and cardio-metabolic benefits of intermittent fasting are obtained mostly from experimental studies, religious and traditional fasting practices have been among the treatment methods applied for human health for centuries. Both intermittent fasting and religious fasting may be a promising strategy for weight loss and improving metabolic health as well as combating the obesity pandemic. In this context, in addition to proven experimental and clinical studies, this review suggested that fasting can be one of the important cornerstones of an integrative treatment approach, as it is a religious, traditional, and widely known method worldwide. It also claims that it can be a useful and sustainable method in the fight against both obesity and factors that threaten planetary health.