Does Intermittent Fasting Lead To Development Of Eating Disorders?

Abstract

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity as a weight management strategy; however, concerns have emerged regarding its potential association with disordered eating behaviors. Although IF is known for metabolic benefits, its psychological and behavioral effects remain unclear, particularly in relation to eating disorder symptomatology.

Objective: To evaluate eating disorder symptoms among individuals practicing intermittent fasting and to determine whether fasting duration and patterns are associated with the severity of eating disorder symptomatology.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 65 participants recruited through non-probability convenience sampling from university and hospital settings. Data were collected using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q 6.0). Quantitative analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and chi-square tests. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was ensured.

Results: The mean age of participants was 25.62 years, with 81.5% females. Female participants showed higher global eating disorder scores (22.80 ± 4.59) compared to males (18.33 ± 5.55), with a significant difference (t = -2.926, p = 0.005). Fasting duration was longer in males (145.00 ± 146.32 days) than females (80.57 ± 69.53 days; p = 0.025). No significant differences were found in global scores across fasting windows (F = 1.294, p = 0.281). Correlation analysis showed weak, non-significant relationships between age and global score (r = -0.212, p = 0.090) and fasting duration and global score (r = 0.138, p = 0.272). Chi-square analysis also revealed no significant association between gender and fasting window (χ² = 2.107, p = 0.349). However, behavioral findings indicated notable prevalence of disordered eating patterns, including fasting for weight control (44.6%), overeating episodes (36.9%), and body dissatisfaction (32.3%).

Conclusion: Intermittent fasting was not directly associated with significant differences in eating disorder severity across fasting patterns; however, notable eating disorder–related behaviors were observed, particularly among females. These findings suggest that IF may not cause eating disorders directly but could contribute to disordered eating behaviors in vulnerable individuals.