Hi, I’m more interested in the health benefits than weight loss, although I did succeed in getting my fat percentage, down considerably using the 5:2 diet (which I started having seen the Horizon programme in August 2012). My visceral fat percentage also dropped which I learned from the programme is particularly worthwhile.

As an example of the kinds of things I’d be interested to see Michael discuss, and references to other articles, is something I saw on sciencedaily.com today (at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150216131146.htm) “Anti-inflammatory mechanism of dieting and fasting revealed” – is 5:2 fasting, or even 6:1 maintenance fasting, sufficient to trigger the anti-inflammatory response.

Another issue I’ve come across is that there is a suspicion (based on research on fruit flies admittedly) that “Fasting could make you more prone to infection” (see press release at http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2014/07/18/fasting-diet/). I’m not too concerned about getting colds a bit more frequently, but one’s immune system also deals with much more sinister, and potentially life-threatening, attacks.

These are important topics. Michael’s programmes and the book encourage people to take up a modified approach to fasting and I think there is a duty of care to follow up important research in the area.

Regards to all