Why Fasting Is Making Most Americans Weaker — Not Healthier

Fasting has become one of the most popular health trends in America.But what if it’s quietly making most people metabolically weaker?In this solo episode, Todd Van De Hei challenges the modern obsession with intermittent fasting and explains why, for the majority of Americans, it may be doing more harm than good.After years of using fasting protocols inside Stark — and later integrating DEXA scans into their system — Todd and his team noticed a troubling pattern: people were getting smaller… but they were also getting frailer.The real issue isn’t calories. It’s muscle.Todd breaks down why muscle is your metabolic currency, how protein intake underpins nearly every system in your body, and why fasting layered on top of stress, low protein, and sedentary living often accelerates insulin resistance, hormone dysfunction, and chronic disease.Fasting isn’t evil. But for most unhealthy, under-muscled Americans, it’s mistimed.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:• Why intermittent fasting often leads to muscle loss — not just fat loss• What DEXA scans revealed about fasting inside Stark• Why most Americans are “under-muscled,” not just overweight• How low protein intake contributes to insulin resistance• Why fasting is a physiological stressor — and why that matters• The connection between muscle mass, hormones, and metabolic health• How protein supports detoxification, gut repair, and immune function• The difference between intermittent fasting and extended fasting• Who should avoid fasting altogether• When fasting may actually make sense Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health