to admire religious fasting for its discipline and commitment?

I mean we all fast overnight, so what. Yes we aren't using any energy to require calories but the point is we eat and drink sufficient during the day to support organ function etc therefore it works the other way, consume enough before dawn and at dusk and all is fine.

No I dont admire it for religious reasons, as I think that most religions have some element to them which encourages a degree of self harm and practices which are not in line with what humans need or how they function, lots of denial above and beyond which is actually good for people in the name of 'something'. I dont think that is emotionally, psychologically or physically healthy

I also dont admire it for 'health' reasons as I think that its again just a form of restriction and self harm dressed up as 'healthy' and the new thing building on an old thing (as fasting has been born out of religion over thousands of years)

None of these things are normal and not to be encouraged or admired.

Self denial is part of many religions. All this chat about Ramadan and most seem to have forgotten we are also in Lent.

Also, how many people are aware that, traditionally, advent was also a time to fast prior to the feast of Christmas?

Im afraid my will power is rubbish and I admire anyone who can focus on their faith in this way.

A lot of people don't fast so much as binge eat at different times to usual meal times.

So, have a massive feast before dawn, more than enough calories to see them through the day then the same at dusk, a huge feast. I've lived and worked with people who say they're fasting and they are literally rearranging their daily calorific intake to have it in 2 huge meals rather than spread over the course of the day.

Risks of Dry Fasting
The biggest risk of dry fasting is dehydration. The complications of dehydration can include:

Seizures. When your electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium are out of balance, your body can have trouble sending electrical signals from cell to cell. This can lead to involuntary muscle contractions and a loss of consciousness.

Brain swelling. When you are getting fluids again after being dehydrated, your body sometimes tries to pull too much water back into your cells. Some cells can swell and rupture during this process. If this happens to your brain cells, it can be especially serious.
Heat injury. If you dry fast during strenuous exercise or when you’re very hot, you can develop a heat injury. This can be mild, such as with heat cramps, or severe, such as with heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat stroke can be potentially life-threatening.**
Kidney failure. If your kidneys are no longer able to remove excess fluids and waste from your body, it can lead to kidney failure, which can be life-threatening.
Low blood volume shock. This life-threatening condition called hypovolemic shock occurs when low blood volume in your body causes a drop in your blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.

Coma and death. If not treated quickly, severe dehydration can be life-threatening.

Well it seems you have made your mind up then op. What was the point of this post?

What's the something bigger?

And for each one of those articles there is one that says the opposite.
I'd say listen to your body, don't starve it of what it needs. Live life.

Workers have to pick up the slack - no one can give of their best when not earing or drinking.
More work caused if fasters collapse. It hapens

Im not impressed by it at all. I have no interest in other people’s performative religion practices, especially when it effects school and workplaces

I had a Muslim friend and honestly he was less than useless every year at Ramadan when he was working. He would spend a lot of time napping in the canteen every chance he got and always had a lot of headaches and obviously couldn't take anything for it. Not sure it did him any good physically.

I can't see how it is good for the body.
If I go more then a couple of hours I get everso hungry

I am not impressed. They are not helping anyone by fasting- not even themselves :
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dry-fasting

I admire people who helps other people- Doctors without borders or local charity volonteers. They are making a difference.

Having worked with women who were fasting and heard how difficult it was for them, I’m more inclined to think it’s abusive, especially the lack of water.

Our landscape gardeners worked throughout Ramadan 😳 I felt so bad for them! And then they took Eid off (obviously!) but brought chocolates round for US. They don't even live locally to us, they went out of their way to deliver them to us, a Jewish family. They're possibly the nicest bunch of men I've ever met. But I'm definitely happier now that I'm able to offer them drinks and biscuits throughout the day!

I'm impressed by other things tbh

Check out the Coptic Christian/orthodox fasts. It’s not just giving up something for Lent. I think the Copts fast more than almost anybody else, but the Lent ones is particularly stringent.

What I really admire about Ramadan is the mental fasting. I honestly don’t think I’d manage. People annoy me enough when I’m not hungry and thirsty!