Scientists have proven the connection between long-term fasting and an increased risk of death from heart disease.

An increasing number of people have begun to adhere to a similar dietary trend (long-term fasting) in the modern world. From Hollywood celebrities to current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, new research shows that intermittent fasting may actually cause serious harm to your health in the long run.

A study found that those who eat only within eight hours a day have almost twice the risk of heart attack and stroke later in life. Experts said this proves why people should be careful about adopting fad diets before their effects are fully known.

Time-restricted eating, a type of intermittent fasting, involves limiting your eating time to four to 12 hours over a 24-hour period.

In recent years, the diet has gained popularity among people such as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Elon Musk and actress Jennifer Aniston. This diet is supposed to help them stay slim.

Previous studies have linked time-restricted eating to improvements in several indicators of cardiometabolic health, such as blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

An early study of 20,000 adults found that those who followed a time-restricted eating plan were 91% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

The fad diet schedule did not reduce the likelihood of participants dying from any cause, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association’s 2024 Lifestyle Scientific Sessions.

The researchers analyzed information on dietary patterns from annual health surveys between 2003 and 2018 and compared it with mortality data for the same period.

Many who follow a time-restricted diet follow a 16:8 eating schedule, in which they eat all food within an 8-hour window and abstain from eating it for the remaining 16 hours each day.

It was found to be associated with a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to people who eat during 12- and 16-hour windows.

They noted that people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or cancer are at particular risk. Professor Victor Wenze Zhong, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said: “We were surprised to find that people following an 8-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Although this type of diet is popular for its potential short-term benefits, our research clearly shows that, compared with the typical eating time range of 12-16 hours per day, shorter eating times are not associated with increased life expectancy “

The study did not take into account other possible confounding factors, such as participants’ weight and cholesterol levels, at the start of the study or during the follow-up period.

It relied heavily on self-reported dietary information, and other lifestyle factors such as smoking and exercise levels were not included in the analysis.

Kate Frain, Emeritus Professor of Human Metabolism at the University of Oxford, explained: “Time-restricted eating is popular as a means of reducing calorie intake, although its proponents claim other benefits such as “boosting metabolism.” This work is important because it shows that we need long-term research into the effects of this practice. But this thesis leaves many questions unanswered and further research will be required.”

Tom Sanders, emeritus professor of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, added that despite its popularity, there is little evidence that fasting helps with weight loss or maintenance: “We know from previous evidence that it is probably better to spread out food intake throughout the day – little but often – instead of consuming large portions of food over a shorter period of time. This is necessary because after a large meal there is a significant increase in fat and glucose in the blood.”