Rishi Sunak says fasting is an ‘important discipline for me’

He may have a demanding schedule as Prime Minister, but Rishi Sunak has described intermittent fasting as being an “important discipline” for his “balanced lifestyle”.

Mr Sunak typically avoids eating on Mondays as part of a health drive which he said helps to combat his “weakness for sugary things”.

The Prime Minister is a self-confessed “Coca-Cola addict”, with a preference for a Mexican variety made with pure cane sugar.

But the extent of his health drive, which also features workouts on static Peloton bikes, was revealed over the weekend by The Sunday Times.

Mr Sunak told BBC News: “I’m not sure people are that interested in my diet but I tend to try and do some fasting at the beginning of every week as part of a general balanced lifestyle but everyone will do this differently.

“I think it’s important we have healthy lifestyles, that’s part of what I do, but I also have a weakness for sugary things which I indulge in the rest of the week.”

Asked about how he fasts for a day despite the demands of his office, Mr Sunak said: “That’s an important discipline for me but it means that I can then indulge myself in all the sugary treats that I like for the rest of the week, which I tend to enjoy. That’s where I balance it with my job and everything else.”

Friends of Mr Sunak told The Sunday Times that he does not eat anything for 36 hours at the start of each week, from 5pm on Sunday until 5am on Tuesday.

Downing Street insiders disputed the timeline but confirmed that he typically fasts on Mondays.

Though the jury remains out on just how beneficial it is, some argue that intermittent fasting has health benefits including weight loss.

There are varying types of fasting, some including reducing calorie intake significantly on certain days, or going without food entirely on some.

Those who want to try it are advised to speak to medics first, and it is not advised for people with a history of disordered eating or who are pregnant.