Short-term fasting in the treatment of obesity.

Short-term fasting (five days) accompanied by negative nitrogen balance induced protein sparing effect in the realimentation period at obese persons on the hypocaloric diet. To utilise the starvation induced activation of mechanism compensating the losses of body protein 5-day starvation was alternated with 3-day intervals on 500 kcal diet (60 g of protein), the cycle was repeated five-times. The results of repeated estimations of body composition (densitometry) revealed, that at this regimen the losses of the body fat were in a marked preponderance over the lean body mass (63% versus 37% of the weight decrease). The repeated periods of starvation are well tolerated and appeared to be effective and safe (provided that states with contraindication of starvation are excluded).