Intermittent fasting and diet plans to lose weightfasting have become increasingly popular in recent years. But little is known about the long-term effects of this diet, and a new study is raising concerns. The results show that reduced food intake in worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) has a detrimental effect on three generations of offspring. This is especially true when these offspring have access to unlimited food.
Can losing weight by fasting be harmful?
Fasting diets may affect the health of future generations, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia in the UK. The study authors already knew that reducing food intake could extend lifespan and improve health. Therefore, the team examined the effects of time-limited fasting on the lifespan and reproduction of roundworms and across three generations of their offspring. The first generation of worms had the opportunity to eat as much as they wanted and a fasting diet. Four generations of offspring from these parents were then placed on either full diet orset to intermittent fasting. The research team then assessed the effects of different scenarios on the reproduction and longevity of future descendants. These included what happens when great-grandparents fast but future generations can eat as much food as they want, as well as cumulative fasting for four generations.
Such worms are classic model organisms for studying the aging process in biology. They share with humans many genes and molecular pathways that control development. They are also very useful because they have a short life cycle of just two weeks, allowing scientists to study their development and that of generations of their offspring in a short period of time. A similar study with humans could take a century or more. The team found that losing weight through fasting actually increases lifespan. It also improves the performance of the offspring in terms of reproduction when these offspring fast themselves. However, researchers were surprised to see that such diets reduce offspring performance when offspring have access to unlimited food.This studyshows that fasting is costly to offspring and its effects can last for generations.
