Reducing by Total Fasting

Abstract

Widespread publicity given to the method of weight reduction by total fasting is cause for some alarm. Confusion has been created in the minds of most patients and some physicians as to the significance of the very large losses reported. Most such losses are not of fat but of protein tissue and fluid. Many questions as to long-term efficacy and even safety of the procedure have yet to be answered. The author is more impressed with this method as a potential research tool than as a therapeutic measure.