From the Mediterranean Diet to Whole Thirty to Ideal Protein to Paleo, there are seemingly a million diet plans out there to choose from. But have any of those actually worked? Have any of these helped you to maintain the weight you lost?

One recent diet fad has some claiming it holds the secret to weight loss and maintenance.

Intermittent fasting is a regimented diet plan that requires participants eat within an eight hour window and then fast for 16. While in your eight hour “eating window,” you can eat whatever you want- the only restriction is time.

The main goal is often weight loss, but according to Nurse Diane Bower and Nurse Jo Anne Kudla it can have other positive effects.

“It can keep your blood sugar at a more even level, which can help regulate your weight,” said Bower. “Keeping your weight regulated, like at a normal weight, can benefit everything: your cardiovascular system, prevent cancers, and more.”

Kudla noticed that there “has been some success with diabetics” and the diet can be “good for inflammation.”

There has been considerable backlash about the diet, however. Both Bower and Kudla agree that “any kid of diet requires discipline and there could be extremes.”

“Diabetics could get low blood sugar, which is deathly for them,” said Bower. “GURD [essentially heartburn] is possible if you have a late eating window. It may also happen if your eating window is too early due to gastric acid in your stomach.”

Kudla worries that “headaches and dizziness can happen because of low blood sugar”.

Other worry it may lead to potential eating disorders, like bulimia or anorexia.

“People that have addictive behaviors may abuse this diet, but I would say it is your personality. If you have an addictive personality, you would be more likely [to develop an eating disorder],” said Bower.

English teachers Mr. Raymond Del Fava and Mr. Richard Moore both tried the diet. .

“It hasn’t been difficult for me to maintain it,” said Moore, who has been using it for about a year. “I have actually really enjoyed it.”

Del Fava shared similar sentiments regarding this diet.

“Whether or not it’s psychosomatic, I feel better mentally, and I think that overall helps me,” he said.

Both teachers would like to continue with this diet and have seen success in mental and physical areas. According to DelFava, an added bonus lies in the food. “You eat whatever you want as long as it’s in your window,” he said.

Rana Maratuglo, a senior, also has participated in this diet. Through social media (an Instagram account @eatworkoutlive run by Lindsey Buckman) Rana discovered intermittent fasting.

“As [Buckman] kept posting I saw that she did intermittent fasting, and she showed a picture of her seven years ago compared to now,” said Rana. “It was insane.”

Rana is a MMA fighter but with these high intensity workouts, she has noticed little to no change in her athletic ability.

“I think it benefits my sports. My digestion is better, it’s more regulated. I feel lighter both physically and mentally; I feel like I don’t have to think about my food as much anymore,” said Rana.

Intermittent fasting can be beneficial for weight loss and digestive regulation, however like all diets, risks may apply. Consult your doctor before partaking in a diet plan and make sure that it is the right one for you.