A while back, the 5:2 diet acquired cult status. But new research finds that the 5:2 is hardly more effective than your GP’s traditional weight loss advice. thetimes.co.uk/article/the-5-…
The diet calls on people to restrict their intake of food and drink to just 500 to 600 calories on two non-consecutive days each week, roughly a quarter of the usual recommended amount.
They then apply sensible eating rules on the remaining days. thetimes.co.uk/article/the-5-…
They then apply sensible eating rules on the remaining days. thetimes.co.uk/article/the-5-…
Variations of the diet have been circulating for some time, under names such as the dodo diet (day on, day off), the ADF (alternate day fasting) and the on-off diet.
The diet was made famous by Michael Mosley, a health journalist who presented a BBC2 Horizon documentary on it in 2012. It examined research by several US-based scientists that suggested that so-called “intermittent fasting” could improve weight loss. 
In a clinical trial, 300 obese adults were asked to follow the 5:2 plan or standard weight loss guidelines, such as cutting back on saturated fat, and exercising.
When assessed a year later, about 18% of the 5:2 group had lost at least 5% of their body weight. For the control group it was 15% — a slender difference and neither terribly impressive.
Might there be a more effective attitude or principles we can bring to weight loss?
@DrAseemMalhotra, a consultant cardiologist, says that the problem with obesity is that it’s associated with various risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even cancer.
@DrAseemMalhotra, a consultant cardiologist, says that the problem with obesity is that it’s associated with various risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even cancer.
Consequently, he tells his patients to, broadly speaking, lay off the “bad carbs” and junk.
“There are two things you need to cut out. One is ultra-processed food. And the other is low-quality carbohydrates — that’s refined grains, your white breads, pastas.”
“There are two things you need to cut out. One is ultra-processed food. And the other is low-quality carbohydrates — that’s refined grains, your white breads, pastas.”
When you cut out refined carbs and ultra-processed food, “the health markers strongly associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer all improve significantly,” he says.
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