What are the main approaches?
The most popular is 16:8, fasting 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window. There is also 5:2, restricting calories on two non-consecutive days a week, and full 24-hour fasts. Each is a different way to create the same basic effect: less time spent eating.
Do you actually do this yourself?
I practice it, but not all the time. I go through periods of doing it and periods of not. There is real benefit in it, but it is not the end-all. Food is food, and fasting is one protocol, not a requirement.
What are the real risks?
It is not for everyone. Possible downsides include nutrient deficiencies if you do not eat enough in your window, disrupted sleep if you fast too close to bed, and in some cases it can feed an unhealthy obsession with food timing. Watch for that last one especially.
Should I try it?
If it fits your life and you are not prone to an unhealthy relationship with food, it can support weight management and may have other benefits worth reading into. If it makes you miserable or obsessive about the clock, it is not worth it. Hitting your protein and calorie targets matters more than when you eat them.
Coaching, not medical advice. Read the health notice.