The effect of short-term fasting to stress and cognitive functions

The social environment and mass media shape the person's perception for body image. It is mostly important during adolescence, because seeking ideal body image can result choosing wrong diet method, such as fasting. This has a significant impact on brain development processes, that is why it is important to understand the influence of calorie restriction on physiological, cognitive and psychological levels in order to control the risk of adolescent eating disorders. The aim of this study was to find out the impact of short-term (48 hours) fasting on girls' stress levels and cognitive changes. The research is conducted during 2018 - 2019 years in Lithuanian Sports University. 7 subjects participated in this qualitative study. Control and intervention weeks were organised. During the intervention week, control measurements were taken before calorie restriction and after a few days the intervention of fasting started - leaving only the water to drink. Measurements were made after 24 hours and 48 hours after calorie restriction. During control week only measurements were performed. Analysis of the research data was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 21 program. The main conclusions - short-term (48 h) fasting evoked stress, but had no negative impact on cognitive function. During fasting human‘s body metabolic and endocrine processes changed, it disrupted physiological homeostasis – what also influences psychological imbalance. There is evidence in importance of stress management topic while implementing intervention program for healthy lifestyle promotion. The aim of the study – to find out the effect of short-term (48 h) fasting to young women stress level and cognitive function changes. Research tasks: 1. Conduct an experimental study and to examine the effect of calorie restriction to young women stress level changes. 2. Conduct an experimental study and to examine the effect of calorie restriction to young women cognitive function. 3. After analyzing physiological, objective and subjective results by this study, analyze possible changes in human behavior occured because of calorie restriction. Object of the study – 48 h restriction of calories and its effects to young women stress and cognitive function level changes. Methodology of investigation. The research is conducting in 2018 – 2019 years in Lithuanian Sport‘s Science University. Qualitative study, involved 7 subjects. Two different weeks were held: control and intervention. During intervention week were held control measurements before restriction of calories and after two days intervention had started – were left possibility to drink only water. Measurements were made 24 h and 48 h after restriction of calories. During control week, were made only control measurements. Analysis of research data was made by IBM SPSS Statistics 21 program. Conclusions: 1. Short-term fasting evoked stress. 2. Short-term fasting had no impact on cognitive funtion. 3. During fasting human‘s body metabolic and endocrine processes changed, it disrupted physiological homeostasis – what also influences psychological imbalance