OMAD does NOT work for everyone. Due to the long period s of time that OMAD requires for a person to go without eating, OMAD is not recommended for everyone.
OMAD diet would not be ideal if you are on medications that require you to be fully fed before taking them. OMAD is also not recommended for children due to the fact that they need a lot of energy during the day and therefore have to keep eating to maintain their energy levels.
Additionally, elder people also require eating regularly for purpose of maintaining their glucose levels. OMAD may also not be the best option for you depending on your goals, for instance, if you are a bodybuilder looking to peak your performance, OMAD may not work for you. There are several factors to consider before you can start OMAD, like the work you do, for instance, people who work for long hours and perform a lot of labor that requires a lot of energy should know that OMAD may not be the best for them simply due to the amount of energy required during their working hours.
OMAD, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTS.
Should you place your child on OMAD to help them lose the extra weight? According to Aoun, A., Ghanem, C., Hamod, N., & Sawaya, S. (2020). The Safety and Efficacy of Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss. Nutrition Today, 55(6), 270-277.
it was found that intermittent fasting could be harmful to children. In this article, the author states that intermittent fasting is not suitable for people who are experiencing rapid periods of growth such as children and adolescents. She further posits that for children, other forms of weight control may be more appropriate.
These include: avoiding processed foods, serving the children healthy bowls of fruit daily, using planned meal times and snack times, eliminating sugary beverages, and also other practices such as mindful eating and eating together as a family.
OMAD Diet and People with Health Conditions.
Generally, people who are sickly are barely advised to take part in any intermittent fasting methods including OMAD due to the medication they use. OMAD may also be quite stressful for the first few days and may add to the stress that is already caused by being sickly. OMAD may cause mood swings and dizzy spells. OMAD may also not be recommended for people with hormonal imbalances.
For people with mental health disorders, OMAD may not be recommended for them. This is because OMAD causes dizzy spells and a rise in mood swings during the first few days. The additional stress that comes from eating only one meal may lead to overeating or resorting to harmful behaviors to calm the stress that comes from not eating.
For people with diabetes, a reduction in caloric intake may not be best. In this study, it was found that caloric restriction with the use of anti-diabetic drugs may lead to death among other effects. Remember to always seek the advice of your doctor before any diet, or lifestyle change especially if you are under any medication.
OMAD AND THE ELDERLY.
OMAD is not recommended for seniors. Intermittent fasting has been known to increase the risk of stroke and arrhythmia. Moreover, the ACCORD has found that intermittent fasting, OMAD included, increased the risk for cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.
OMAD may also cause osteoporosis due to frequent variations in glucose concentration that causes instability in the body.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become brittle. While most scientists would not recommend OMAD for seniors, there are other studies that suggest otherwise.
In this study, though the researchers expressed that the findings should be used with extreme caution, it was found that time-restricted feeding amongst older adults is an acceptable regimen for older adults to follow for weight loss. In this study, the amount of restriction was 16 hours without food and an eight-hour window for eating. The best method is to consult a dietitian if you are unsure whether as a senior, OMAD is the best diet for you.
OMAD AND PREGNANT WOMEN.
Generally, it is advisable for pregnant women not to partake in the OMAD diet. This is because a pregnant woman is not only eating for herself, but also for her unborn baby as well. Care has to be taken in order to give birth to a healthy baby. A restricted diet has been shown to negatively affect fetal development and also cause lifelong damage to their offspring. Some of the fetal development issues include low birth weight and altered neonatal growth. All this may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. It may also lead to obesity and impaired cognitive function.
In this paper, the study gave a warning that pregnant women should be allowed on the OMAD diet, whatsoever. From these studies, it is clear that pregnant women should not take part in intermittent fasting.
However, in the Islam religion, many women still take part in fasting during the Ramadan period. The question then becomes how best to perform intermittent fasting so as to prevent the adverse effects that come with it. Muslim women may need to consult with their doctors for the best practices and nutrients to take during their intermittent fasting to ensure the birth of a healthy baby.
Is it Safe for Breastfeeding women to be on OMAD?
According to The World Health Organization, the number of times a lactating mother should eat is two times, in the minimum per day. Therefore, seeing as OMAD only allows eating once per day, a lactating mother may not be the best candidate for OMAD.
Before opting for OMAD, ensure you visit your dietitian and discuss your dietary concerns with them. OMAD is clearly not for everyone, and you never know whether you are one of those OMAD is not best for.
