Fasting for Weight Loss - Does it Work?

If you're thinking about fasting for weight loss, there are a few things you should consider before you put a temporary lock on your refrigerator door.

Many spiritual leaders swear by fasting as a way to cleanse the body and the mind, but many medical doctors believe that a few days or weeks without food is dangerous. Ironically, these same doctors might suggest gastric bypass surgery if you are heavy enough to qualify, and the surgery will force you to fast. The problem seems to be a general lack of training among medical practitioners, and a deep-seated pessimism when it comes to suggesting any drastic plans to help their patients lose weight.

Fasting is unlikely to kill you, or even make you sick - although there are exceptions, so be sure to work with a doctor who has training in this particular healing practice. Since fasting is not a normal part of medical training, you may have better luck finding qualified care if you look for a naturopathic physician.

And you will lose weight if you go without food. According to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Fasting and Eating for Health, A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease, you can expect to lose an average of 1 pound a day. The more overweight you are, the faster you lose weight on a water fast.

A small part of this lost weight is water, which will be regained as soon as the fast is over. And some of the weight loss will be muscle mass, not body fat.

Your body normally burns glucose for fuel, but only about one day's worth is stored in your liver in the form of glycogen. After the first day on the fast, most of your energy will come from fatty acids stored in all those fat cells you're trying to get rid of - but you still need some glucose for your brain and red blood cells. Your body can create some glucose out of your fat tissue, but additional glucose will be obtained from your muscle tissue in the second and third day of your fast. Some muscle loss is inevitable.