5:2 diet

The 5:2 diet, also written as 5/2 diet, is a fad diet[1] which involves severe calorie restriction for two non-consecutive days a week and normal eating the other five days, which originated and became popular in the UK, and spread in Europe and to the USA.[2] It is a form of intermittent fasting.[3] The diet is claimed to promote weight loss and to have several beneficial effects on health. According to the UK National Health Service, there is limited evidence on the safety and effectiveness of the diet; they advise people considering it to consult their doctor.

The diet specifies a low calorie consumption (sometimes described as "fasting") for two days a week, which should not be consecutive, but allows normal eating for the other five days.[5] Men may eat 600 calories on fasting days, and women 500.[6] A typical fasting day may include a breakfast of 300 calories, such as two scrambled eggs with ham, water, green tea, or black coffee, and a lunch or dinner of grilled fish or meat with vegetables, amounting to 300 calories.[5] The daily 500 or 600 calorie limit requires small portions.


Print this Page

All Treatments

Average Effectiveness

This is the Average effectiveness per ailment as reported by our participants (you).

Effectiveness:
  • 0 = No improvement or Worse
  • 1 = Slight improvement
  • 2 = Moderate Improvement
  • 3 = Significant Improvement
  • 4 = Cured

Order By

Type of Treatment

Date Range

Minimum Number of Users

Complete a survey on 5:2 diet to help the CureCrowd community

If you have tried to treat this ailment, please complete the following form to help us better our data, and help guide people to the best possible treatments. CureCrowd is a public resource with absolutely no vested interest in the outcomes of our studies.