Which Celebrities Actually Do Intermittent Fasting?
More celebrities than you’d expect have talked publicly about intermittent fasting. Hugh Jackman used the 16:8 method (eating within an 8-hour window) while bulking up for his Wolverine roles, consuming up to 5,000 calories a day during that window. Jennifer Aniston has credited 16:8 fasting with giving her better energy and a leaner physique. Terry Crews has eaten only between 2 PM and 10 PM for over a decade. Halle Berry pairs IF with a ketogenic diet to help manage her Type 1 diabetes. And they’re far from the only ones — we’ve tracked down 18 celebrities who have publicly discussed some form of intermittent fasting.
We should say upfront: “intermittent fasting” means different things to different people. Some of the celebrities on this list follow strict, well-documented protocols. Others have casually mentioned skipping breakfast or not eating after a certain time, which technically counts as time-restricted eating but isn’t necessarily a formal IF practice. We’ve tried to be clear about that distinction throughout.
A Quick Primer on IF Protocols
If you’re not familiar with the different approaches, here’s a breakdown of the most common ones:
| Protocol | How It Works | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| 16:8 | Fast for 16 hours, eat within an 8-hour window | The most popular and easiest starting point — typically means skipping breakfast or dinner |
| 18:6 | Fast 18 hours, eat within 6 hours | A tighter version of 16:8 for people who’ve adapted to shorter eating windows |
| 20:4 (Warrior Diet) | Fast 20 hours, eat within 4 hours | One big meal plus small snacks — not for beginners |
| 5:2 | Eat normally 5 days, restrict to 500–600 cal on 2 non-consecutive days | People who prefer restricting whole days rather than daily windows |
| OMAD | One Meal A Day (~23-hour fast) | The extreme end — requires careful planning to get enough nutrients |
| Eat-Stop-Eat | Full 24-hour fast once or twice per week | Similar to 5:2 but with zero calories on fasting days |
The Full Celebrity IF List
| # | Celebrity | Protocol | What We Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hugh Jackman | 16:8 | Used while bulking for Wolverine; ate roughly 4,000–5,000 calories within an 8-hour window |
| 2 | Jennifer Aniston | 16:8 | Doesn’t eat solid food in the morning; drinks celery juice and coffee during her fast |
| 3 | Terry Crews | 16:8 (2 PM – 10 PM) | Has fasted this way since around 2012; credits IF with keeping his physique into his 50s |
| 4 | Halle Berry | 16:8 + Keto | Combines IF with a ketogenic diet to help manage her Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed at age 22) |
| 5 | Chris Hemsworth | 16:8 (periodically) | Has mentioned using IF during non-filming periods through his Centr app programs |
| 6 | Kourtney Kardashian | 16:8 | Has discussed IF on her lifestyle site Poosh; usually eats between noon and 8 PM |
| 7 | Jimmy Kimmel | 5:2 | Eats under 500 calories two days per week; has credited IF with significant weight loss |
| 8 | Scarlett Johansson | 12:12 or 14:10 | Has mentioned using a mild form of time-restricted eating while training for Black Widow |
| 9 | Benedict Cumberbatch | 5:2 | Has mentioned using the 5:2 approach when needing to lean out for roles |
| 10 | Vanessa Hudgens | 16:8 | Has mentioned fasting as part of her fitness routine in interviews |
| 11 | Elsa Pataky | 16:8 | Chris Hemsworth’s wife; follows IF and has been featured on the Centr app |
| 12 | Nicole Kidman | 16:8 | Has mentioned practicing time-restricted eating, though she hasn’t been especially vocal about specifics |
| 13 | Jack Dorsey | OMAD / extended fasts | The former Twitter CEO has talked about eating one meal a day and doing weekend-long fasts |
| 14 | Reese Witherspoon | 16:8 | Has mentioned not eating after 7 PM and delaying breakfast |
| 15 | Mark Wahlberg | ~16:8 | His well-known daily routine starts at 2:30 AM; meals are packed into a fairly tight window from early morning to early afternoon |
| 16 | Jennifer Lopez | Time-restricted eating | Has mentioned avoiding food after 7 PM and focusing on whole foods and lean protein — not a strict IF protocol, but similar in practice |
| 17 | Chris Pratt | Daniel Fast (21 days) | Followed a Bible-based fast that cuts out processed food, meat, and alcohol for 21 days — more of a spiritual practice than traditional IF |
| 18 | Chris Martin (Coldplay) | One meal per day | Has mentioned eating just one meal a day, reportedly inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s eating habits |
The Stories Behind the Fasting
Hugh Jackman and the Wolverine Bulk
Hugh Jackman (born October 12, 1968) is probably the most well-known example of a celebrity using IF to build serious muscle mass. His trainer had him eating roughly 4,000–5,000 calories within an 8-hour window while preparing for Wolverine. Think about that for a second — that’s an enormous amount of food crammed into a short timeframe.
Jackman has said the hardest part wasn’t the fasting itself but “getting all those calories in before the window closed.” He typically ate his first meal around 10 AM and stopped by 6 PM. The approach let him put on muscle while keeping body fat relatively low — exactly the lean, shredded look the role demanded.
Jennifer Aniston: The 16:8 Convert
Jennifer Aniston (born February 11, 1969) brought intermittent fasting into mainstream conversation when she told Radio Times in 2019 that she’d “noticed a big difference” after adopting a 16:8 schedule. At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), she’s maintained a remarkably consistent physique well into her 50s, and she credits IF as a big part of that.
During her fasting hours, she sticks to celery juice, coffee, and water. Her first solid meal is usually around noon. She’s been pretty clear that it’s not about restriction for her — it’s about giving her body a longer break from digestion, which she says helps with energy and focus throughout the day.
Terry Crews: A Decade-Plus of Proof
If anyone has proven that intermittent fasting works long-term, it’s Terry Crews. The actor and former NFL linebacker (born July 30, 1968) has been eating only between 2 PM and 10 PM since around 2012. At 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) and approximately 240 lbs (109 kg), he’s one of the most muscular IF practitioners out there.
Crews has been really open about the benefits he’s experienced — reduced inflammation, better mental clarity, and the ability to maintain his physique without obsessive calorie counting. He’s probably the best argument against the idea that you can’t build or maintain serious muscle on IF.
Halle Berry: Using IF to Manage Type 1 Diabetes
Halle Berry’s relationship with fasting is different from most people on this list because it’s not primarily about aesthetics — it’s about managing a chronic health condition. Berry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 22, and she’s been open about using nutrition as a tool to manage it ever since. She combines a 16:8 intermittent fasting schedule with a ketogenic diet (high fat, very low carb), and she’s spoken extensively about how this combination helps her maintain stable blood sugar levels.
At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), the Academy Award winner (born August 14, 1966) has stayed in remarkable shape, and she’s become one of the most prominent voices in the celebrity wellness space advocating for taking diet and metabolic health seriously. Her story is a good reminder that IF isn’t just a weight-loss tool — for some people, it’s genuinely about health management.
Jimmy Kimmel and the 5:2 Approach
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel took a different route than most celebrities here. Instead of daily fasting windows, he adopted the 5:2 method — eating normally five days a week and keeping calories under 500 on two non-consecutive days. He’s credited the approach with helping him lose significant weight.
On his fasting days, Kimmel keeps it simple: peanut butter, an apple, maybe a small serving of pasta. The rest of the week, he eats without strict calorie counting. It’s a more flexible approach than 16:8, which is probably why it appeals to someone with a demanding and unpredictable late-night schedule.
Does the Science Actually Back This Up?
Celebrities might be the reason IF became a mainstream trend, but there’s real research behind it. Here’s what the science generally supports:
- Weight management: IF can naturally reduce calorie intake while giving your metabolism a short-term boost — some studies have shown metabolic rate increases of 3.6–14% during fasting periods
- Better insulin sensitivity: Fasting periods can help lower insulin levels, which may reduce diabetes risk and improve blood sugar control
- Cellular cleanup: Fasting triggers a process called autophagy, where your cells break down and recycle damaged components — think of it as your body’s built-in maintenance mode
- Lower inflammation: Several studies have found reductions in inflammatory markers among people practicing IF regularly
- Heart health: There’s evidence that IF can improve cholesterol levels, blood triglycerides, and blood pressure
That said, most of this research is still relatively young, and individual results vary a lot. IF isn’t a magic bullet — it’s a tool, and like any tool, it works best when the rest of your habits (diet quality, exercise, sleep) are also in a good place.
An important caveat: intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have a history of eating disorders, or take medications that need to be taken with food, talk to your doctor before trying any fasting protocol. For some people, it can genuinely do more harm than good.
Your IF Questions, Answered
What’s the most popular IF method among celebrities?
The 16:8 protocol, hands down. The majority of celebrities on this list follow some version of it — fast for 16 hours, eat during an 8-hour window. Most skip breakfast and eat between roughly noon and 8 PM. It’s popular because it’s the easiest to maintain alongside a packed schedule.
Can you actually build muscle while fasting?
Absolutely — Hugh Jackman and Terry Crews are walking proof of that. The key is eating enough total protein (aim for around 0.7–1 gram per pound of body weight) and enough total calories during your eating window, and keeping up with resistance training. You’re not going to accidentally shrink because you skipped breakfast.
How long before you see results?
Most people notice improved energy and less bloating within the first week or two. Actual visible changes in body composition — less fat, more definition — usually start showing up around 4–8 weeks in, assuming your overall diet and exercise habits are also solid. It’s not an overnight thing.
Is intermittent fasting safe?
For most healthy adults, yes. But it’s not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone with Type 1 diabetes (unless closely managed with a doctor, as Halle Berry does), or people with a history of eating disorders. If you’re on medication, especially anything that needs to be taken with food, check with your doctor first. Don’t skip that step.
What can you have during the fasting window?
Most people stick to zero-calorie drinks: black coffee, green tea, plain water. Jennifer Aniston has mentioned drinking celery juice during her fast, though IF purists will point out that celery juice technically has some calories and could break a strict fast. For most people’s goals, it probably doesn’t make a meaningful difference — the point is to avoid anything that triggers a significant insulin response.
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Last Updated: October 26, 2026 | Source: Healthy Celeb
