What age can a child start fasting?

When it comes to a child fasting, the age to start really depends on the child. 

Let’s say your child is eight or nine, and they’re overweight. I believe one of the first things you should do is to have them start a low-carb diet (healthy keto). If this doesn’t handle the extra weight, then you might want to try a modification of intermittent fasting. 

Most kids have three meals a day with snacks. The problem is the snacks. Even if they’re healthy snacks, snacking is just not a good idea. Every time a person eats, they stimulate insulin.  Let’s say a child is given something right before they go to bed. If they go to bed at 9:30 pm and wake up at 7:00 am, they’re only fasting for nine and a half hours. This isn’t long enough. 

I believe, generally, the best thing to do is have your child consume three meals without snacks. If they’re hungry between meals, it could mean that their meals are too high in carbohydrates. If the child has the right meal that’s nutrient-dense, then they won’t need a snack.  If the child has been doing three keto meals a day without snacks, they may be able to start doing two keto meals a day without snacks.

But, be sure those meals are sufficient in calories and are nutrient-dense. A low-fat diet is not a good idea for a child. 

Important nutrients to focus on with a growing child: 

• DHA (omega-3 fatty acids) 

• Trace minerals 

• B vitamins

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin E

If a child is really small and is transitioning off of breastmilk, I wouldn’t worry about sticking to three meals at that age. Just feed them when they’re hungry and make sure the food is nutrient-dense. When they get to be four to six years old, you may want to start trying to cut out snacks as much as possible. But, check with your doctor first.  When a teenager stops growing, roughly between sixteen and eighteen years old, that’s when they could really start to focus more on fasting.