Intermittent Fasting
An eating pattern cycling between periods of eating and fasting.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Intermittent fasting means you eat only during specific hours (e.g. 12pm-8pm) and fast the rest of the time. It can help reduce overall calorie intake without requiring calorie counting.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Intermittent fasting protocols include 16:8 (daily), 5:2 (weekly), and alternate-day fasting. Meta-analyses show 3-8% weight loss over 3-24 weeks, comparable to continuous calorie restriction.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Intermittent fasting is a simple, flexible approach that suits some patients better than traditional calorie counting. Medical supervision ensures safety, especially for patients on diabetes medications.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.