OMAD: the extreme version of intermittent fasting. Credits: Canva
Be it Bruce Springsteen or Shahrukh Khan, when talking about fitness, celebrities are full of praise for the diet practice called OMAD. Many celebrities are crediting the prolonged fasting method for weight loss, age reversal and mental clarity. Here we decode what science says about the One Meal a Day (OMAD) practice.OMAD: the extreme version of intermittent fastingSimply put, the OMAD diet is an extreme ratio between fasting and eating. OMAD, the short for ‘One Meal a Day’ suggests, instead of eating three meals, one should consume all the calories within one hour and fast for the remaining 23 hours. The 23:1 describes the fasting to eating ratio. Basically, this practice is about putting the body in a prolonged fasting state every single day.
OMAD: the extreme version of intermittent fasting. Credits: Canva
B-town celebrities including Alia Bhatt, Mona Singh, Karan Johar, Malaika Arora have claimed to be practicing OMAD to stay fit. Celebs credit OMAD for weight loss, focus and longevity and claim it as a fitness mantra that has transformed their health and physique.OMAD for weight lossSome studies suggest intermittent fasting has proven to be an effective weight-loss method. A Harvard study suggests periodic fasting triggers a fat-burning process. This is prominently because, when one goes without food for several hours, the body uses the sugar as an energy source to burn fat. However, studies highlight, with intermittent fasting, people tend to lose weight fairly slowly.
OMAD: the extreme version of intermittent fasting. Credits: Canva
OMAD for age reversalAging is inevitable but it can, at least, be slowed. A Harvard study argues that aging in animals might be reversible.Age reversal typically refers to slow aging through measurable changes like improved cellular repair process, maintenance of immune health and slower decline in aging biomarkers. It is important to note that there are no long‐term trials showing OMAD can slow down aging. However, there are several proven benefits of intermittent fasting that can be responsible for healthy aging and indirect skin-specific outcomes. These may include:Less sugar damage Eating less can help the blood sugar stay steady. This leads to less sugar damage to collagen, the protein that keeps the skin firm. Less collagen damage will lead to lesser damage to the skinAutophagyStudies suggest fasting turns on autophagy. Autophagy is a process where the skin cleans out the old and damaged parts. A research by UK National institute of Health autophagy declines with premature skin aging. This may keep the skin cells healthier and delay visible aging.
OMAD: the extreme version of intermittent fasting. Credits: Canva
OMAD: Is it right or risky? It is important to understand that a celebrity following a diet trend is different from a normal person following it. Celebrities follow these fasting plans by working with professionals (doctors, nutritionists and personal chefs). The professional supervision makes sure to cover the required protein, vitamin and calorie intake. Not every regular person can afford professional help, this can lead to nutrient gaps and ultimately leave a negative impact on health. So, following any diet simply because someone else is following it, is not a good idea and should be done only after professional advice.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. OMAD is an extreme fasting method that should only be followed under professional supervision.