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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Diets and Meal Planning

Intermittent fasting

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, intermittent fasting means: An eating pattern that switches between periods of eating and periods of fasting or very low intake, such as eating only within an eight-hour window each day.

In Turkish: aralıklı oruç, aralıklı açlık

How it is used

Popular in the media and studied in research. Common forms are time-restricted eating, such as 16:8 (said 'sixteen eight'), and the 5:2 diet. Studies generally show weight loss similar to other calorie-reduced diets. Professionals often use 'IF' as a short form.

Example sentences

  1. Intermittent fasting may not be suitable for people with a history of eating disorders.

  2. He tried intermittent fasting but found it hard to fit around his night shifts.

Common collocations

  • try intermittent fasting
  • time-restricted eating
  • 16:8 fasting
  • eating window
  • 5:2 diet
  • calorie deficitA state in which a person takes in fewer calories than the body uses, so that the body draws on stored energy and body weight tends to go down.
  • weight managementThe long-term process of reaching and keeping a body weight that supports health, through eating habits, physical activity, behavior change and, when needed, medical treatment.
  • meal planA written plan that shows what, when and how much a person will eat over a day or a week, usually prepared to meet specific health or energy needs.
  • eating disorderA serious mental health condition involving harmful eating behaviors and strong concerns about food, weight or body shape, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.

More terms: Diets and Meal Planning

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.