Health Beyond the Blog: Zero, the Intermittent Fasting App

How Tech is Influencing Diet Culture

by Emily Kim

A few decades ago, losing weight was quite simple – a clean diet and consistent exercise. Although the same principles apply, today there’s a variety of diets – keto, vegan, Atkins, etc. – and an even greater selection of exercises – CrossFit, pilates, spin, calisthenics, etc.  But above all, the rapid growth of weight loss apps are changing how we approach health with the heaps of information one can receive through the mere screen of a smartphone. 

Here, we take a look into Zero, an intermittent fasting app that helped Elon Musk lose 15 pounds. The app builds an individualized regime of intermittent fasting based on specific goals and priorities initially filtered at the beginning of the program. When the home screen appears, a big red button says “start fast”. The interface is clean, easy to manipulate, and quite motivational as there are notifications throughout the fast to encourage users. The Zero app was made by Kevin Rose, endorsed by Dr. Peter Attia & Mike Maser, and utilized by avid users, such as Elon Musk. 

Moreover, Zero brought the practice of intermittent fasting, a type of fasting that lasts less than 24 hours, into widespread popularity. Not only does it help one lose weight, but this practice has been shown to benefit heart health, reduce inflammation, and improve cell repair within the immune system. When done consistently and timely, intermittent fasting through Zero can be a great way to improve one’s health. The app also reminds users to eat healthily and provides information on ways to overcome obsessing about food. 

**If you have an eating disorder or any other health conditions, please ask your primary care physician before using Zero.