Time-Restricted Eating Trend
Intermittent Fasting (IF) - cycling between eating and fasting periods - became 2016-2020’s most sustainable diet trend. The 16:8 protocol (16-hour fast, 8-hour eating window) proved most popular for combining flexibility with results.
Protocols: 16:8 (skip breakfast), 5:2 (2 low-cal days weekly), OMAD (one meal daily), alternate-day fasting
Appeal: No food restrictions (when to eat, not what); simpler than calorie counting; free
Celebrity adopters: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Pratt, Terry Crews
Research: Modest weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, autophagy (cellular cleanup), longevity (animal studies)
r/intermittentfasting: 1M+ members sharing results, tips
Apps: Zero, LIFE Fasting Tracker - 10M+ downloads
Coffee culture: Black coffee/tea allowed during fasts; became IF staple
Criticisms: Disordered eating risk, hunger/irritability, difficult socially, muscle loss concerns
Sustainability: More maintainable than restrictive diets; becomes lifestyle for many
IF succeeded where fad diets failed by working with human eating patterns rather than against them.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-guide