It’s been something of a breakthrough year for intermittent fasting. Chances are you’ve had a workmate drag out the tea room chat with talk of “5:2” this or “the 16:8? that, while it was also the most searched diet term of the year, according to Google’s annual report, bumping previously hyped high-fat keto and low-carb carnivore diets out of the top 10 list.

If you’re yet to be acquainted, intermittent fasting is basically the restricting of your calorie intake to certain windows during the day or week. Some people think of intermittent fasting as an effective part-time diet but for every convert who finds it an easier way of dieting, there’s an equal number of people who slam it for being nothing more than the latest fad.

Beyond burning fat, research suggests periodic fasting can also deliver transformative health benefits too, such as reducing the risk of diseases including diabetes and heart disease and boosting the production of a protein that strengthens connections in the brain that can serve as an antidepressant to boost mood.

On the flipside, intermittent fasting has been associated with a range of debilitating side effects such as fatigue, dizziness and muscle aches and is even deemed downright dangerous for those who are pregnant or at risk of eating disorders.

So what exactly is intermittent fasting? Does it really work? And, crucially, could it work for you?

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

There are several schools of intermittent fasting, ranging from the entry-level to the extreme. Some divide the typical day or week up into windows when you can or cannot eat. Others require you to track and limit your calorie intake for a set time period.

Here, with the help of a registered GP, naturopath nutritionist and personal trainer, we break down the hotly-debated merits of each one.