If you are overweight or obese, you will most likely lose some weight if you stop eating. However, there may be better ways to lose weight as it can lead to other health problems, such as poor bone density and an increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, many people find that they gain muscle when they reduce their calorie intake for fat-loss purposes. If you are lean but want to increase your metabolism so that more calories are burned throughout the day, then intermittent fasting may be a better option. This involves limiting food intake in intervals (for example, 8 hours) or continuously (24/7). Following an intermittent fasting schedule will burn more calories during regular waking hours and at night when your body is generally breaking down stored energy reserves.