Day fasting obesity hit

DAWN-TO-DUSK fasting is being hailed as an obesity blaster.

A new study shows that not eating throughout the day for 30 days can play a crucial role in improving insulin resistance and protecting against the risks from a high-fat and highsugar diet.

Based on the fasting custom of Ramadan, a spiritual practice for Muslims, the diet offers a potential new treatment approach for obesity-related conditions, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The research is from Baylor College of Medicine, Texas.

Nutrition Australia’s Aloysa Hourigan says those taking part in the diet must be mindful of getting enough nutrients when they do eat.

“There is the danger of people having very low energy levels during their work day,” she said.

Ms Hourigan also warns against eating huge calorific meals in the evenings.

The Queensland Chief Health Officer’s Report shows that in 2017-18 one in four children were overweight or obese and two in three adults.

The report shows that diabetes is the largest single cause of potentially preventable hospitalisations in Queensland.