The Allure of Empty: Intermittent Fasting, Disordered Eating, and Productivity Culture

If you’ve been intrigued by all the benefits that intermittent fasting claims to offer, you are not alone, and this week’s podcast episode is for you. I’m joined by a special — and beloved (so you’ve told me) returning guest — my husband, Jeb! Jeb gives his own thoughts on the research behind intermittent fasting, his personal experience with addiction and how it reflects some of the same behaviors, and provides the comic relief, as he likes to say. Though I am clearly the funnier of the two of us. I also talk about how fasting showed up in my own disordered relationship with food, even though I never intentionally followed a time-restricted diet. Some of the things we discuss include... * The origins of intermittent fasting * Different types of fasting protocols * Why intermittent fasting proponents claim it’s “not a diet” * Intermittent fasting’s connection to Silicon Valley, body optimization, and biohacking * What the research says about intermittent fasting’s claims to better health, increased productivity, mastering glucose levels, mental clarity, and more * Whether IF has any long-term health benefits * The emotional and mental impact of intermittent fasting, including on your relationship with food * Physical health implications of fasting * Intermittent fasting’s connection with disordered eating behaviors * Where do we go from here if we’re still intrigued? Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership, which meets every other week: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe