Fasting one day a week for 42 years..

                       

         Advancing your Health...and the Environment!

-  42 Years one-day-a-week ‘No-eating-day’ -

With environmental concerns on the rise and obesity becoming a national problem, I want to make environmentalists and health professionals aware of a 42-year weekly ‘No Food Day Routine’ that deals with both! 

I am currently 70 years old and I have not eaten one day a week for almost 42 years. (See*) This literally means that on December 15, I have not eaten for 6 years during my lifetime! (**)

I don’t have the access or resources to scientifically measure, analyse and assess how much one’s health benefits from fasting routines, nor can I exactly measure how much my carbon footprint was reduced, by 'not eating for nearly 6 years'.

Therefore, I would like to ask economists and health and environmental professionals if they are interested in reviewing and researching any of the following topics:

1.  Could scientists measure the impact on the environment in the US, if everyone over 18 had one ‘No Food Day’ this year?

2.  What would be the economic impact on the US population, if every adult in the US did not eat one day a week (or one day a month) this year?

3   Can a health expert accurately measure the physical benefits of a long-term fasting routine of one day a week, or one day a month?

4.  Can an Environment specialist measure how much fasting every Sunday, reduced my carbon footprint?

5.  May I challenge the person reading this to try to acknowledge  whether or not they have the willpower to successfully complete a ‘Day Without Eating’ of (only) one full day?

During my 42 years of the one-day-a-week "No Eating Day" routine, I noticed that:

- no health or environmental experts responded to scientifically assess how a day of fasting would affect health or reduce one's carbon footprint.

- about 7 people tried the willpower test not eating for just one day. (topic 5)

- only one person succeeded.. (see comments) 

- the art of self-discipline appears to become very much unpopular!

* On Thursday, 16 December 1982, I started my first day of the weekly fasting cycle. In Oct/Nov 1984, I changed my fasting day from Thursday to Sunday. 

On Sunday, 15 December 2024, I will have fasted one day a week for 42 years and 4 days. This amounts to at least 2191 fasting days in 2191 weeks and 4 days. 2191 fasting days divided by 365 (days in a year) confirms the fact that as of December 2024, I have - during my 70-year lifetime - not eaten for exactly 6 years..! 

** A No-Food-Day means consuming absolutely no solid food, nothing...not even a crumb of bread! You can only drink liquids, mostly water and sometimes fruit juices to get sugar in your body, providing energy for normal activities during the day. 

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A Chatbox Interpretation..

Deprived of the human and intimidating ‘one-day-not-eating’ challenge.. 

this Chatbox has led to interesting suggestions and criticisms!

After 42 years, there was almost no response from economists and/or health or environmental experts. So, finally I asked ChatGPT (artificial intelligence) the following question:

Question: What would be the effect on the US economy and global environment, if every American (18+ years old) fasted one day a week or one day a month in 2025?

Answer: If every American aged 18 and older fasted one day a week or one day a month starting in 2025, it could have a range of effects on the U.S. economy and the global environment, particularly in areas related to food consumption, public health, and sustainability. The scale of impact would depend on whether the fasting is a weekly or monthly occurrence.

1. Impact on the U.S. Economy

a. Reduced Food Consumption

• Weekly Fasting (52 days/year per person):

  • Immediate economic impact on the food industry: A reduction in food consumption by millions of people would likely reduce demand for food products. This could impact various sectors of the food industry, including farming, food processing, transportation, retail, and restaurants.
  • Supply chain adjustment: Farmers and food producers might scale back production, and grocery stores might experience reduced sales of perishable items. Certain food categories (e.g., snacks, ready-made meals) could see reduced revenue, while staple items like grains, pulses, and legumes might see fluctuating demand.
  • Restaurants and fast food: The restaurant and fast food sectors might face a dip in demand for prepared meals, especially for high-calorie, convenience-oriented offerings.
  • Potential economic shift: While food-related sectors could experience a temporary decline in revenue, industries focused on health, wellness, and plant-based products might see growth. There could also be an increased demand for meal planning services, cooking classes, or health and wellness apps.

• Monthly Fasting (12 days/year per person):

  • The economic effects would be less pronounced than with weekly fasting but still noticeable, particularly in sectors reliant on constant food consumption.

b. Healthcare Cost Savings

• Health benefits: Fasting has been linked with various health benefits, such as weight loss, improved metabolic health, and reduced risk for chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease). If a significant portion of the population benefits from these health improvements, it could lead to lower healthcare costs, especially in treating obesity-related conditions.
• Long-term savings: A reduction in chronic diseases and improved public health could reduce the overall economic burden on the healthcare system. This could translate into savings for both private insurers and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

c. Shift in Labor Productivity

• Fasting might affect labor productivity, depending on how individuals approach fasting. If people are able to manage fasting without negative effects on energy levels or concentration, the impact on overall productivity could be neutral or even positive. However, if fasting causes significant fatigue or decreases mental clarity, there could be short-term declines in productivity.

d. Consumer Behavior Shifts

• Spending redistribution: People might reallocate spending from food to other categories, such as fitness, health, or leisure. This could stimulate growth in other sectors of the economy (e.g., wellness products, fitness memberships).
• Less food waste: Fasting might encourage more mindful eating habits, potentially reducing food waste. This could have long-term benefits for both individual budgets and the economy, as well as sustainability efforts.

2. Impact on the Global Environment

a. Reduced Environmental Footprint from Food Production

• Lower resource use: Fasting would likely reduce demand for food, particularly meat and dairy products, which have the highest environmental impact in terms of water, land, and energy use. A reduction in food consumption would mean a decreased environmental burden from agriculture, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and deforestation associated with food production.
• Less food waste: A significant reduction in food waste is another potential environmental benefit. The U.S. currently wastes a large percentage of food, and fasting could encourage more responsible consumption. With fewer people eating large portions or impulsively buying food, landfills could see a reduction in food waste.

b. Potential for Positive Climate Impact

• Lower emissions: Food production, particularly livestock farming, is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. A decrease in food demand, especially for high-emission products like beef and lamb, could help lower emissions. A reduction in overconsumption could contribute to the U.S. meeting its climate goals, especially if the fasting behavior encourages shifts toward plant-based eating.
• Land use changes: Less demand for livestock and resource-intensive crops could free up agricultural land for more sustainable practices or even conservation efforts. This could also reduce pressure on ecosystems and biodiversity, which are threatened by current agricultural practices.

c. Global Food Security

• Less pressure on global supply chains: A reduction in domestic food demand could, in theory, ease pressure on global food supply chains. This might make food more accessible or affordable in regions that face food insecurity, as less food would be diverted for U.S. consumption. However, the impact would depend on the extent of global interconnection in food markets.

3. Potential Drawbacks or Challenges

a. Short-Term Economic Disruptions

• Job losses in affected industries: If food consumption drops significantly, jobs in agriculture, food processing, restaurants, and retail could be affected in the short term. There may also be ripple effects in transportation and packaging industries.
• Supply chain disruption: A sudden shift in consumption patterns could cause short-term supply chain disruptions as producers adjust to lower demand or changes in consumer preferences.

b. Social and Cultural Resistance

• Behavioral challenges: Fasting may not be culturally or socially accepted by all Americans. Some might find it difficult to fast regularly, leading to potential pushback or a decrease in the effectiveness of the initiative. Religious, social, and family dynamics around food could complicate widespread adoption of fasting as a norm.
• Economic inequality: Fasting may disproportionately affect low-income communities, where food insecurity is already a concern. There would need to be measures in place to ensure that fasting does not inadvertently exacerbate food access problems for vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

If every American fasted one day a week or one day a month in 2025, the effects on the U.S. economy and the global environment could be significant. On the economic side, there might be short-term disruptions in the food industry, but there could be long-term healthcare savings and shifts in consumer spending. Environmentally, fasting could help reduce the carbon footprint of food production, decrease waste, and promote sustainability. However, challenges like social resistance, short-term economic impacts, and concerns about equity would need to be addressed for the initiative to be successful.

Ultimately, the overall impact would depend on how widely fasting is adopted, the specific methods people choose to fast, and how the food system adapts to this shift in consumer behavior.