An Australian researcher will starve 100 obese women, and allow them to consume only 800 calories a day so that she can test if drastic and rapid weight loss could help beat the famine reaction.
Sydney University Associate Professor Amanda Salis' theory is that the chemicals called ketones - released when body's sugar stores are used up - will switch off the appetite increase which occurs after dieting and block a drop in the body's metabolic rate, News.com.au reported.
The principle that she's experimenting is the same idea that is behind the popular new five and two Fast Diet that is being pioneered by UK journalist Michael Mosley.
Professor Salis tested her theory on herself and as a result lost 28 kilos and kept it off for over 15 years by using intermittent dieting.
She said that she lost weight by repeatedly dieting for 2 weeks then having a 1-3 month period of weight maintenance in an attempt to beat the famine reaction.
