Who should not fast: Contraindications explained clearly

The essentials at a glance

• Buchinger therapeutic fasting is a viable option for many people; however, it is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for those with anorexia or other eating disorders.
• The fasting therapy guidelines (ÄGHE) advise against fasting in cases of advanced liver or kidney failure, decompensated hyperthyroidism, and severe malnutrition.
• Anyone taking long-term medication should not fast without medical supervision, as many medications require dosage adjustments during a fast.
• At Tannerhof, a preliminary medical consultation by phone is available upon request before your arrival; the formal assessment takes place during the initial medical consultation on your first day of fasting.
• The most important factors for a successful week of fasting are your own motivation and willingness — everything else will be discussed with our medical team.

Who should not fast?

Buchinger therapeutic fasting is the conscious, temporary abstinence from solid food and stimulants. The human metabolism is well-equipped to handle a limited period of fasting, making it a viable option for many. However, there are situations where therapeutic fasting is not the right choice. These boundaries are well-defined in fasting medicine, and clearly stating them is part of the diligence of a facility that has provided medically supervised therapeutic fasting for over 70 years.

For guests interested in a medically supervised fasting program, Body Detox is the dedicated program page; the method itself is detailed on our page about Buchinger therapeutic fasting.

The fasting therapy guidelines from the Medical Association for Therapeutic Fasting and Nutrition (ÄGHE) list a clear set of contraindications. A large observational study by Wilhelmi de Toledo et al., involving over 1,400 participants and published in PLOS One in 2019, defined these same conditions as exclusion criteria — and documented a very favorable safety profile among the remaining participants.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Therapeutic fasting is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Nutritional requirements are particularly high during this time, as both the mother and the child must be reliably nourished. Both the fasting therapy guidelines and the PLOS One study therefore list pregnancy and breastfeeding as clear contraindications.

This does not mean that a conscious, lighter diet is excluded during this phase of life — however, the temporary abstinence from solid food as defined by Buchinger fasting is not appropriate. If you are considering a week of fasting later on, it is best to discuss the right timing with your own doctor.

Anorexia and other eating disorders

Therapeutic fasting is not suitable for those with anorexia or other eating disorders. This is not about a temporary, voluntary break, but rather a troubled relationship with food that would be exacerbated rather than resolved by fasting. The ÄGHE guidelines explicitly list anorexia nervosa and severe malnutrition as contraindications; in the PLOS One study, anorexia nervosa and cachexia (pathological wasting) were among the predefined exclusion criteria.

Therapeutic fasting requires a stable relationship with food, to which one consciously returns after the fasting period. It is precisely this relationship that is being treated in the case of an eating disorder. Therefore, the self-reflection that fasting can entail is not the right path in this situation.

Chronic illnesses and ongoing medication

Beyond the points mentioned above, the fasting therapy guidelines describe several other conditions where fasting is discouraged or requires particularly careful medical supervision:

• Advanced liver or kidney failure, as fasting places extra demands on the metabolism.
• Decompensated hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), which must be stabilized first.
• Advanced dementia or severe cognitive impairment.
• Severe malnutrition and cachexia, i.e. a state of physical wasting.

Current medication also plays a specific role. Metabolism changes during fasting, and many medications—such as those for blood pressure, blood sugar, or anticoagulation—must then be adjusted by a doctor. The ÄGHE states this clearly: anyone taking medication should not fast without medical supervision. This is not an exclusion, but rather a reason to place your fast in expert hands. That is exactly what the medically supervised fasting week is for.

Looking at the data helps put this into perspective: in a PLOS One study of over 1,400 people who fasted for four to 21 days under professional supervision, adverse effects occurred in less than one percent of participants, and serious events remained a rare exception. The prerequisite in each case was that the aforementioned contraindications had been ruled out in advance. This preliminary assessment is precisely the task of medical supervision.

What the medical assessment at Tannerhof provides

At the Tannerhof nature hotel, therapeutic fasting is always medically supervised—this is the hotel's philosophy, developed over three generations of doctors. The doctors at Tannerhof are experts in fasting, and that is precisely why they are the right people to determine whether fasting is suitable for you in your individual case. Where a medical statement appears in this text, it is either supported by the guidelines and studies on fasting therapy available from the ÄGHE, or it describes the medically supervised practice at Tannerhof.

If you have any doubts before arriving—such as a chronic condition, ongoing medication, or simply feeling unsure—a preliminary medical consultation by phone can be arranged upon request. This ensures the most important questions are answered before your journey begins.

The actual, detailed assessment then follows during the medical intake interview on the first day of fasting. This interview is holistic in nature and includes:

• a medical history, i.e., questions regarding your health background,
• a physical examination including bioelectrical impedance analysis, a measurement of body composition,
• a review of your medications,
• and furthermore, questions about why you are fasting, what is currently happening in your life, and what previous fasting experience you bring with you.

The length of your stay is booked before arrival; during the intake interview, the schedule can be coordinated with the medical team within this framework and adjusted if necessary. Every person is different, and the individual is at the center of everything we do.

What supports therapeutic fasting at Tannerhof

If the medical assessment is positive, a fasting week begins that is more than just abstaining from solid food. Buchinger therapeutic fasting is more than a diet and is not primarily a weight-loss method—it is a therapeutic approach, a cleansing on many levels, and an encounter with oneself. The body works on two levels simultaneously: it switches to fat burning and begins autophagy, the body's own recycling and cleansing processes at the cellular level.

The accompanying treatments are deliberately broad and tailored directly to fasting: medical history and examination, follow-up consultations and final review, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and, depending on the program, IHHT altitude training, Kneipp contrast showers, hay flower wraps and aroma wraps, moor and warm packs, magnesium-rich detox baths, fasting massage, detox massage with royal oil or acidosis massage, lymphatic drainage, breathing therapy, and sauna sessions. In addition, there is yoga, Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, and resistance band training, mental support such as psychotherapeutic coaching, nature coaching, or art therapy, and, where medically appropriate, ozone autohemotherapy.

Exercise remains an integral part of fasting, kept gentle and balanced: moderate basic endurance training and light strength work, or a hike set at a pace that complements your fast. Tying it all together is the setting: Bayrischzell, alpine meadows, mountain streams, crisp, pure mountain air, and views of Mount Wendelstein. My mountain hideaway offers the peaceful environment where fasting and medical guidance bring out the best in one another.

Ultimately, what matters most is your own motivation and willingness to fast. When both are present and the medical evaluation confirms it is safe, the right setting and ideal duration are determined together with the medical team. Explore an overview in the Therapeutic Fasting and Schlanke Tanne hub.