{"id":191821,"date":"2025-10-11T02:03:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/191821\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T02:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:03:11","slug":"people-swear-by-the-52-plan-for-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/191821\/","title":{"rendered":"People Swear by the “5:2” Plan for Weight Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every day, a new, trendy diet is making its rounds on the internet. From high-protein, low-carb eating methods to intermittent fasting, there are so many concepts floating around, all with a similar intention: to Lose weight and burn fat. Recently, people have been talking about the 5:2 plan for weight loss. What is it, how does it work, and should you try it? We asked Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD\/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies<\/a>, to weigh in on the trendy weight loss method.<\/p>\n

\tWhat Is the 5:2 Plan for Weight Loss?<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

First, what is the 5:2 plan for weight loss? \u201cThe 5:2 plan is a type of intermittent fasting. You eat normally for five days of the week, and on the other two non-consecutive days, you significantly restrict calories\u2014usually to about 500 calories for women and 600 for men,\u201d says Collingwood.<\/p>\n

\tHow Does It Reportedly Work?<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

How does it reportedly work? \u201cThe idea is that these fasting days create a weekly calorie deficit, which can promote weight loss and metabolic benefits without daily restriction,\u201d Collingwood says.<\/p>\n

The 10 Best Functional Strength Exercises for Beginners<\/a><\/p>\n

\tIs There Research Supporting It?<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Is there any research backing up the diet? \u201cResearch shows the 5:2 plan can lead to weight loss and improvements in blood sugar control, cholesterol, and inflammation,\u201d says Collingwood. \u201cThis is similar to traditional calorie restriction.\u201d6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e<\/p>\n

\tIt Might Work for Some, But Not for Others<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

However, Collingwood notes that results vary, \u201cand success often depends on what someone eats on their \u2018normal\u2019 days and how well they can maintain the routine long-term,\u201d she says. \u201cSome people find it sustainable because it allows flexibility most days of the week, while others struggle with hunger, fatigue, or overeating after fasting days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tDoes She Endorse It?<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 5:2 plan is not a magic fix. I don\u2019t recommend such a low calorie level, even if it is just 2 days per week. It is especially not good for people who have an unhealthy relationship with food, are prone to disordered eating, or can\u2019t handle hunger cues without it leading to binge behavior. It\u2019s also not ideal for people with diabetes, pregnant women, or those with high activity levels or medical conditions requiring regular nutrition,\u201d Collingwood says.<\/p>\n

5 Strength Moves That Burn Belly Fat Faster Than a Treadmill Run<\/a><\/p>\n

\tFocus on a Balanced Approach Over a Trendy Diet<\/p>\n

\"\"Shutterstock<\/p>\n

What does Collingwood recommend for weight loss? \u201cFor most people, a balanced approach that includes consistent eating patterns, nutrient-dense foods, and portion awareness tends to be easier to sustain long-term,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every day, a new, trendy diet is making its rounds on the internet. From high-protein, low-carb eating methods…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":191822,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55,4405],"class_list":{"0":"post-191821","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom","13":"tag-weight-loss"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}