Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Apr 13:9:18.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-9-18.

The effects of dietary fasting on physical balance among healthy young women

Shanthi Johnson  1 , Krista Leck
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of dietary fasting on physical balance among healthy young women

Shanthi Johnson et al. Nutr J. .

Abstract

Background: The study examined the effects of dietary fasting on physical balance among young healthy women.

Methods: This study undertaken involving 22 young healthy women (age = 22 +/- 1.5) using a within subject counterbalanced 2-week crossover study design. Participants were asked to refrain from consuming any food or beverage for 12 hours prior to the fasting trial and to maintain their regular diet for the non-fasting trial. Measures included: a background questionnaire, 24-hour dietary recall, and functional reach and timed single-limb stances.

Results: Fasting resulted in significant declines in functional reach (p < 0.01), and ability to balance in a single limb stance with eyes open, on both the dominant and non-dominant legs (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), and with eyes closed on the dominant leg (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The findings have implications for athletic performance in younger individuals as well as emphasizing the need for health education for young women to avoid skipping meals.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ageberg E, Roberts D, Holmstrom E, Friden T. Balance in single-limb stance in healthy subjects--reliability of testing procedure and the effect of short-duration sub-maximal cycling. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003;4 doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-4-14. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Vellas B, Wayne S, Romero L, Baumgartner R, Garry P. Fear of falling and restriction of mobility in elderly fallers. Age and Ageing. 1997;26:189–193. doi: 10.1093/ageing/26.3.189. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hall SJ. Basic Biomechanics. 5. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2007.
    1. Winter DA. Biomechanics and motor control of human movement. 2. New York, NY: Wiley; 2005.
    1. Goldie P, Evans O, Bach T. Steadiness in one-legged stance: development of a reliable force-platform testing procedure. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1992;73:348–354. doi: 10.1016/0003-9993(92)90008-K. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources