Diet and maintaining a healthy body weight seem to play a major role in healthy aging and longevity, with different foods and dietary patterns likely capable of increasing or decreasing the risk of various age-associated diseases. It is evident that overweight and obesity increase the risk of many chronic diseases that decrease lifespan and healthspan, including type 2 diabetes, stroke, and more.
Two diets frequently studied in the context of aging and lifespan are caloric restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting (IF). CR involves a (usually at least 10%) reduction in calorie intake relative to typical levels without inducing malnutrition, while IF involves alternating periods of normal food intake with extended periods (usually 16–48 hours) of low-to-no food intake.[1][2] CR and IF are often found to extend the lifespans of animals (particularly mice) as well as improve risk factors for age-related diseases (e.g, cardiovascular-disease, type-2-diabetes) in humans,[3][4] but ultimately the effect of these dietary approaches on human lifespan and healthspan has not been completely evaluated.