Extreme weight loss programs are all the rage today. People who have tried them claim to experience great results in a short period of time. But what are the real long-term effects on your health?
Fast, extreme weight loss has become a popular trend for those who are looking to lose weight. Extreme weight loss typically happens through rapid and unsustainable means such as starvation, dehydration, or severe calorie restriction.
While these methods can lead to short-term results when done long-term they can have serious effects on your health. Extreme weight loss programs are not healthy long-term solutions to losing weight. These programs put you at risk of developing eating disorders, malnutrition, and stress on your bones and muscles. Is it worth it? How much risk do you take by losing weight fast? Let’s find out.
Starvation and Calorie Restriction
When you starve yourself or severely restrict calories, your body thinks that it is in a state of famine. To make up for this lack of nutrients, the body will break down muscle mass and store fat instead. This happens because the body thinks it needs to store as much energy as possible to survive the “famine.”
Unfortunately, when you lose weight through calorie restriction, you will regain the weight (and sometimes more) once you go back to your normal diet since your body maintained a “fat storage” mode while you were restricting calories.
There are other long-term health risks associated with extreme calorie restriction, such as an increased risk of osteoporosis and brittle bones, an increased risk of developing anemia, gastrointestinal problems and a weakened immune system.
Another issue with calorie restriction for long periods of time is that it can cause your metabolism to slow down drastically, making it even harder for you to lose weight if you return to an eating pattern with regular calories.
Bone and Muscle Deterioration
One of the side effects of unhealthy and extreme weight loss methods is muscle and bone deterioration. When your body does not receive enough nutrients, it breaks down muscle and bone tissue for nutrients. This is because the body thinks it is in a state of starvation and does not have enough nutrients to function at an optimal level.
This can lead to weakened bones, muscle weakness, and posture problems. Bone loss is caused by decreased levels of estrogen, as well as a lack of vitamin D. According to a research study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, change in bone density is associated with weight loss with middle-aged women more at risk. As Osteoporosis is one of the major issues women are facing as we age, bone mass should be kept balanced at all times.
If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight, you could experience muscle deterioration, which is characterised by a decreased ability to exercise and muscle weakness. In addition to losing muscle mass, you may also lose calcium and phosphorus from your bones due to the increased loss of fluids and electrolytes during exercise. This can lead to a condition called osteopenia — a precursor to osteoporosis — where there is less calcium in the bones than normal.
If you are experiencing muscle deterioration after losing weight, you should consult a doctor, or health and fitness coach as they can recommend an appropriate way to regain your muscle strength and health.
Malnutrition
Extreme weight loss methods can cause you to become malnourished if done for a prolonged period of time. Malnutrition can result from extreme calorie restriction, severe dieting, and excessive exercise. If you are experiencing malnutrition, there will likely be noticeable changes in your mood, mental health, and overall health.
Symptoms of malnutrition include fatigue and decreased energy levels, mood swings, a decrease in motivation and productivity, headaches, hair loss, and dry, scaly skin. If you are experiencing these symptoms while on an extreme weight loss diet, you should seek medical attention. A doctor can perform tests to determine if you are experiencing malnutrition and recommend ways to correct the issue.
Eating disorder
An eating disorder is a mental illness that can develop when you are performing extreme weight loss techniques.
If you have an eating disorder, you will likely be obsessed with your diet and constantly try to control what you eat, how often you eat, how much you eat, and how many calories you consume.
Eating disorders can be defined as an unhealthy relationship with food, weight and body image. This includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
Eating disorders are associated with considerable mortality, morbidity, and economic costs. In the United States, 10% of all deaths in females aged 15-24 years are due to eating disorders, linked to the desire to lose weight and keep body shape by starvation.
Eating disorders become dangerous when they become obsessive and disruptive to your life. If you believe you may be suffering from an eating disorder, find a therapist that specialises in eating disorders to seek treatment.
Extreme weight loss programs can have serious long-term effects on your health if done for a prolonged period of time. Starvation and calorie restriction can lead to muscle and bone deterioration, malnutrition, and an increased risk of developing an eating disorder. If you are looking to lose weight, you should consult a nutritionist, or a health and fitness coach like Rita to find a healthy and sustainable lifestyle change that fits your lifestyle and long-term goals.
Don’t forget to message her today so that you can start your health journey.
EXTREME SPEED WEIGHT LOSS: LONG TERM EFFECTS ON YOUR HEALTH!
Today’s world is obsessed with being skinny.
You can see the pressure to be thin everywhere you look – from television, to advertisements, to social media. This obsession with being skinny has led many people to think that the best way to get there is by losing weight quickly. Whether it’s a fad diet, juice cleanse, or some other quick fix, many people are trying to lose weight as fast as possible.
If you are considering a crash diet for weight loss, it’s important that you know the risks involved. Rapid weight loss can have serious consequences on your body and your health in the long run. We’ll go over some potential dangers of rapid weight loss and some of the activities to avoid.
What is Extreme Speed Weight Loss?
In general, rapid weight loss is anything that results in a loss of one or more pounds per week. The goal of weight loss should be to lose one to two pounds per week on a regular basis over a long period of time. However, most people who go on a crash diet for weight loss experience an initial loss of 10 pounds or more in the first week. This means these people are losing about 1 pound each day, which is definitely considered rapid weight loss. We’ll break down the dangers of rapid weight loss below.
- Nutrient Deficiency
When you lose weight quickly, your body doesn’t have enough time to adjust to its new size. This means that you’ll lose nutrients through things like excretion, sweating, and urination. Some common nutrients that you’ll lose with excessive weight loss include calcium, iron, B vitamins, and zinc. These nutrients are responsible for important bodily functions like maintaining strong bones, keeping your immune system strong, and improving your mood. If you’re not getting enough of these nutrients, your health can suffer greatly.
- Muscle Loss
Another side effect of rapid weight loss is the potential for your body to start breaking down your muscles. You may think that you can avoid losing muscle by exercising during your rapid weight loss regime, but this isn’t always the case. Exercising while losing weight can actually help to prevent muscle loss, but if you’re not eating enough calories to sustain your workouts, your body will break down your muscles as a source of fuel. This can be very dangerous for your health. When your body breaks down muscle for fuel, it releases chemicals called cytokines. These cytokines can travel to your kidneys, liver, and heart and cause damage to those organs. This can cause organ failure and greatly reduce your lifespan.
- Weaker bones
When you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body will start to break down your bones to get at it. Calcium is an essential nutrient for strong bones. It helps your bones grow strong and provides support to your joints and ligaments. When you’re not getting enough calcium in your diet, your body will start to break down your bones to get the calcium it needs. This puts you at a high risk of developing osteoporosis and breaking bones. If you’re trying to lose weight quickly, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough calcium in your diet.
- Gastrointestinal problems
When you’re trying to lose weight quickly, you may be tempted to forgo proper nutrition for a fad diet or a juice cleanse. While these methods may allow you to lose weight quickly, they can also cause severe gastrointestinal problems. Gastrointestinal issues that may occur from a crash diet include irritable bowel syndrome, vomiting, and diarrhea. These issues may be short-term as long as you end up eating a healthy diet after your rapid weight loss period. If you continue to ignore proper nutrition and maintain your crash diet over a long period of time, your gastrointestinal issues can become chronic conditions.
Here are some of the most common rapid weight loss activities to avoid:
Fasting
Fasting is probably the oldest form of extreme speed weight loss that has been practiced by different cultures across the world.
While intermittent fasting has become a popular approach to weight loss in recent years, many people still choose to undertake water fasting. Water fasting is an extreme form of fasting during which you consume nothing but water for anywhere between one and 30 days.
While this particular extreme speed weight loss approach is not recommended for everyone, it can be a valid choice for those who have a strong will power and a healthy digestive system. Depending on the length of your water fast, you may experience many health benefits such as improved mental clarity, reduced inflammation, improved digestion, increased energy levels, and better sleep.
However, water fasting is not recommended for those who are underweight, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people who have digestive issues, and those who are taking medication.
Excessive Cardio
Excessive cardio is the form of extreme speed weight loss that involves performing excessive amounts of aerobic workouts while eating a very low-calorie diet.
Extreme speed weight loss programs that promote excessive cardio are often associated with the Atkins diet, which has been found to be unhealthy in many ways. Depending on the degree of carbohydrate restriction, the Atkins diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies and even mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. One study has shown that long-term consumption of low-carbohydrate diets can increase your risk of death from all causes.
Excessive cardio can not only cause serious health problems, but it can also make you lose muscle mass instead of fat. While moderate amounts of cardio have been proven to promote fat loss, excessive amounts of aerobic workouts can cause muscle loss by increasing protein breakdown in your body.
Sweating in Hot Rooms
This extreme speed weight loss approach involves exercising in saunas or steam rooms to increase your metabolism and burn fat.
Although this method seems harmless enough, it can be very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Exercising in hot environments can trigger the fight-or-flight response and cause an increase in your core body temperature.
This can be dangerous if the temperature in the room is too high, and many people have died as a result of extreme speed weight loss. Individuals who are at risk for hyperthermia due to excessive sweating should not undertake this extreme speed weight loss approach. You should never exercise in excessively hot rooms without wearing protective gear such as gloves, a hat, and a long-sleeved shirt. This extreme speed weight loss method is not healthy and can lead to serious health issues.
For most people, extreme speed weight loss can be just as bad as extreme weight gain. You may lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, but it is unlikely to be fat because your body stores fat as a survival mechanism. When you lose weight too quickly, your body perceives it as a threat, so it will store more fat and utilize less energy to prevent itself from dying. If you want to lose weight safely and permanently, keep your diet clean, eat a lot of vegetables, and exercise regularly. Weight loss is a slow process, and it should not be rushed. It is recommended to lose between one to two pounds per week, and you should be able to maintain your weight loss for the long term.
Don’t rush your weight loss journey. Book a call with Rita today and receive a bespoke programme tailored for your needs!
