What model eats one meal a day?: Examining the OMAD Diet Trend in Fashion

October 1, 2025 •

6 min read

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has publicly stated she often eats only one meal a day, a practice known as the One Meal A Day (OMAD) diet. Her admission has sparked immense interest and fueled discussions around whether this restrictive eating pattern is nutritionally sound, prompting the question: what model eats one meal a day? and is it truly healthy?

Quick Summary

This article explores the celebrity fascination with the OMAD diet, discussing the case of supermodels like Naomi Campbell, its potential benefits, and the significant health risks associated with this extreme eating pattern.

Key Points

Naomi Campbell and OMAD: Supermodel Naomi Campbell is one of the most famous examples of a celebrity publicly discussing her practice of often eating only one meal a day.
What OMAD Is: The One Meal A Day (OMAD) diet is an extreme form of intermittent fasting that involves consuming all of one's daily calories within a single, one-hour eating window.
Why Models Use It: Models, including Elizabeth Hurley and Brooke Shields, have used OMAD as a short-term, intensive strategy for weight loss and to prepare for events.
Risks for Models: For models, OMAD carries significant risks like muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic disruptions, which can negatively impact their health and performance.
OMAD vs. 16:8 Fasting: The OMAD diet is much more restrictive and has higher health risks compared to the more moderate 16:8 intermittent fasting method.
Not a Sustainable Lifestyle: Experts generally do not recommend OMAD as a sustainable long-term diet, advising for balanced, nutrient-dense eating patterns instead.
Crucial to Consult Professionals: Any individual, especially those with demanding physical careers like modeling, should consult a healthcare professional before attempting OMAD.

The Allure of the One Meal a Day (OMAD) Diet

The One Meal a Day (OMAD) diet is an extreme form of intermittent fasting that restricts all daily caloric intake to a single, typically one-hour, eating window. For the remaining 23 hours, a person consumes only zero-calorie beverages such as water, black coffee, or herbal tea. This eating pattern is not new, but it has gained significant popularity in recent years, particularly among celebrities and public figures seeking rapid weight loss and simplified eating routines. The appeal lies in its simplicity: no constant calorie counting or meal planning is required, just a single, large meal. However, the health implications of such a restrictive approach are complex and warrant a closer look, especially when adopted by those under intense public scrutiny, like models.

Models and the OMAD Trend: Notable Cases

The fashion industry has long been associated with demanding beauty standards, with models often turning to extreme diets to maintain their physiques. Several notable models have been linked to the OMAD diet or similar highly restrictive practices:

Naomi Campbell: The iconic supermodel is one of the most prominent names associated with eating one meal a day. She has discussed her approach to fasting, emphasizing that she listens to her body, and that it's not always planned. While she may not adhere to it every single day, her public statements have amplified the trend's visibility.
Elizabeth Hurley: Former model and actress Elizabeth Hurley reportedly followed an OMAD diet in the past to lose weight after childbirth. Her endorsement contributed to the diet's popular image as a quick-fix solution for weight loss.
Brooke Shields: Another actress and model, Brooke Shields, has also mentioned following a one-meal-a-day diet when working on set, noting its fitness results. This practice highlights how models might use such methods for short-term, intensive preparation rather than sustainable long-term health.

These instances showcase how celebrity endorsements can shape public perception, making extreme diets appear more accessible and desirable, especially within an image-conscious industry. However, the context of a controlled, temporary measure by a professional differs significantly from sustained, unsupervised practice.

How Models Typically Approach OMAD

For models who utilize OMAD, the strategy often revolves around balancing the intense caloric restriction with nutrient-dense foods during their single meal. The goal is to obtain all necessary vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats within a short timeframe to support their energy needs and physical appearance. This requires meticulous planning, as inadequate intake can lead to nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, and muscle loss.

Nutrient-Dense Focus: A model's OMAD meal might include a variety of lean proteins, a large portion of vegetables, healthy fats from sources like avocado or nuts, and complex carbohydrates.
Gradual Adaptation: Many health professionals recommend a gradual transition into OMAD, perhaps starting with a less restrictive intermittent fasting schedule like 16:8 to allow the body to adjust.
Careful Monitoring: They must closely monitor their body's response, watching for signs of fatigue, mood changes, or other negative symptoms.

The Nutritional Realities of the OMAD Diet

While OMAD may simplify meal timing, it does not guarantee a balanced nutritional intake. Attempting to consume an entire day's worth of calories and essential nutrients in a single sitting poses several challenges and risks.

Potential Benefits (often debated):

Weight Loss: The primary driver for OMAD is weight loss, achieved by naturally restricting calorie intake. For most people, consuming a full day's calories within a short window is difficult, leading to a significant calorie deficit.
Simplified Eating: The convenience of only preparing one meal per day is a major draw for individuals with busy schedules.
Potential Metabolic Shifts: Some studies on intermittent fasting suggest potential benefits like improved insulin sensitivity, though the long-term effects of the extreme 23-hour fast of OMAD are not fully understood.

Significant Health Risks:

Nutrient Deficiencies: It is extremely challenging to consume enough vitamins, minerals, and fiber in one sitting. This can lead to long-term health issues, including poor immune function, decreased bone density, and chronic fatigue.
Muscle Loss: Extended fasting can lead to the loss of lean body mass, as the body may break down muscle tissue for energy. This is particularly concerning for models who require strength and a toned physique.
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Concerns: Studies have linked eating one meal a day to higher fasting blood sugar, increased LDL ('bad') cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure levels. Some research even suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
Impact on Hormones: For women, OMAD can disrupt hormones related to stress, metabolism, and menstruation, leading to fatigue, mood changes, and irregular periods.
Disordered Eating: The restrictive nature of OMAD can contribute to an unhealthy relationship with food, increasing the risk of binge eating during the eating window or developing disordered eating patterns.

OMAD vs. 16:8 Intermittent Fasting: A Comparison

To better understand the extremes of OMAD, it is helpful to compare it to a more widely practiced and studied form of intermittent fasting, such as the 16:8 method (fasting for 16 hours and eating during an 8-hour window).


Feature	OMAD (One Meal a Day)	16:8 Intermittent Fasting
Fasting Window	23 hours	16 hours
Eating Window	1 hour	8 hours
Nutrient Intake	Risk of nutrient deficiency is high due to limited intake time	Easier to meet daily nutrient needs with two to three meals
Sustainability	Very difficult to sustain long-term due to extreme hunger and social isolation	More sustainable and flexible, easier to fit into social schedules
Energy Levels	High risk of fatigue, shakiness, and irritability due to blood sugar crashes	Generally more stable energy levels throughout the day
Overall Health Risk	Higher risk of metabolic disruptions, nutritional deficiencies, and disordered eating patterns	Lower overall risk, with a better balance of benefits and risks

Is OMAD a Healthy Choice for Models?

For most individuals, including models, OMAD is not a sustainable or nutritionally balanced long-term solution for weight management. While some models may utilize it for short-term, rapid results, often under strict professional supervision, the risks are substantial. The pressure to maintain a certain image in the fashion world can push individuals toward extreme methods, but these come at a cost to their overall health and well-being. A diet that creates intense hunger, risks nutrient deficiencies, and can disrupt metabolism is generally not advisable.

Rather than fixating on what model eats one meal a day, a safer and more effective approach involves adopting gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes. Combining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet with regular physical activity is the foundation of long-term health and well-being. As noted by many health experts, less extreme forms of intermittent fasting or standard calorie restriction methods are typically safer and more sustainable. For anyone considering OMAD, especially a model with demanding nutritional requirements, it is crucial to consult a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making such a significant dietary change.

To learn more about the risks and benefits of different fasting methods, consult a reliable health resource like Healthline.

Conclusion

While the sensationalism of a model eating one meal a day might captivate public interest, the reality of the OMAD diet is far more complex and potentially risky. For most, the extreme fasting periods, risk of nutritional deficiencies, and adverse effects on metabolism and hormones outweigh the perceived benefits of simplified weight loss. Sustainable and healthy eating patterns, which include regular, balanced meals, remain the most reliable path to maintaining a healthy physique and promoting overall well-being. Following health trends, particularly extreme ones, without professional guidance is ill-advised and can have severe consequences, a lesson that is important to remember even when faced with the aspirational images of celebrity health regimens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has publicly stated that she often eats just one meal per day. Other models and celebrities, including Elizabeth Hurley and Brooke Shields, have also adopted or experimented with this form of extreme intermittent fasting.

The OMAD diet is an intense version of intermittent fasting where a person consumes all their daily calories within a single, typically one-hour, eating window. For the remaining 23 hours, they only consume zero-calorie beverages.

Most health professionals caution against the OMAD diet for long-term use due to significant risks. These include nutrient deficiencies, potential loss of muscle mass, metabolic disruptions, and an increased risk of disordered eating patterns.

Health risks associated with OMAD include nutrient deficiencies, elevated LDL cholesterol, increased blood pressure, potential muscle loss, fatigue, irritability, and hormonal disruptions, especially in women.

It is extremely difficult to get all necessary nutrients in a single meal. A balanced OMAD meal should be meticulously planned to be nutrient-dense, including lean proteins, healthy fats, fiber-rich vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. Some may also need supplements to cover nutritional gaps.

Yes, the highly restrictive nature of the OMAD diet can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors. Intense hunger from prolonged fasting may trigger overeating or binge-eating episodes during the single meal, potentially contributing to disordered eating patterns.

Less extreme forms of intermittent fasting, such as the 16:8 method (16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating), are often recommended as more balanced and sustainable alternatives. A traditional balanced diet with moderate calorie reduction and regular exercise is a safer approach to long-term health and weight management.