Chris Pratt embarks on three weeks of fasting and praying with Bible-inspired diet

Chris Pratt is starting off the New Year with an unusual weight loss regime, revealing to followers that he has embarked on the Bible-inspired Daniel Fast.

The 39-year-old actor told fans that he will spend three weeks praying and fasting as part of a diet inspired by the life of Daniel, a prophet from the Bible’s Old Testament.

“OK, hi, Chris Pratt here. Day three of the Daniel Fast, check it out, it’s 21 days of prayer and fasting,” he confirmed in an Instagram post.

He went on to joke that his latest diet might make him a little light-headed on his upcoming promo tour for The Lego Movie 2, telling followers: “It’s going to coincide also coincidentally with the Lego Movie 2 junkets, so by the time you see me, I’ll probably be hallucinating. Stay tuned.”

According to the programme’s website, the Daniel Fast is “a partial fast where some foods are eaten while others are restricted,” which typically last “for 21 consecutive days.”

As well as helping participants lose weight, the purpose of the fast is to help them “draw nearer to God.”

The “New Year Fast” began “at sunrise on January 6 and completes at sunset on January 26,” though the website states that anyone who is interested in taking part can “enter into a 21 day period of extended prayer and fasting” at any time.

Daniel Fast participants can only drink water and eat foods “grown from a seed,” which includes all fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Any processed foods, leavened bread and meat or dairy products are banned.

The actor has previously spoken out about his strong Christian faith, and regularly attends the Los Angeles branch of the Hillsong church with girlfriend Katherine Schwarzenegger.