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 Sarah carefully watches what she eats and doesn’t eat more than 1600 calories a day. Most people would assume that Sarah was trying to lose weight, but she’s not.
She’s a part of a growing number of calorie restrictors who believe that less food can equal a longer life. So is it a load of rubbish, or are there some merits to forever living on a restricted diet?
The idea of cutting back on calories to live longer has been around for a while. There is even a whole organisation dedicated to the calorie restriction lifestyle. Studies on calorie restriction and lifespan began back in the 1930’s and since then have been conducted on a wide variety of animals, and most recently, monkeys.
 The most recent study of 76 Rhesus monkeys (which share some similarities to the human race) found that 13% of the calorie-restricted monkeys died during the 20-year study period, compared with 37% of monkeys allowed to eat their usual diet. Not only did they live longer, they were also healthier. So does calorie restriction mean starvation and malnutrition? According to the Calorie Restriction Society, the goal of calorie restriction is to eat fewer calories, yet still consume adequate vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
 It’s not known exactly how a calorie-restricted diet helps stave off age-related diseases and extend lifespan. It could be because it would help maintain a healthy weight and it is also hypothesised that eating healthy, high nutrient foods can also produce physiologic changes in the body, which may lower disease risk.
But before you rush out to find out more, just because the experiment extends life in animals, it doesn’t mean that following a calorie restricted diet will have the same effect in humans.
In fact, there are also many health risks with following an extreme calorie restricted diet long term. Not to mention that it wouldn’t be much fun – food is a part of our social lives. Risks and side effects of following such a regime include poor bone health, loss of strength and stamina, menstrual irregularity, infertility, cravings and food obsession.
Instead of resorting to extreme measures, eating a healthy, balanced diet, keeping active and maintaining a healthy body weight are proven measures to help maintain good health.
Nicola Graham, Nutritionist
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