You may be tempted to use unhealthy methods to lose weight quickly. However, unhealthy weight loss methods usually only lead to short-term weight loss that occurs at an unhealthy weight loss rate. Instead of using these bad weight loss methods, use a healthy diet and exercise program to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week. If you lose more than 2 lbs per week, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, it can lead to losing lean muscle mass and water weight instead of losing fat.
Crash Diets
Crash diets, or fad diets, are diet plans that eliminate or severely restrict or overemphasize at least one food group. Because these diets are so restricted, they don't provide the nutrition necessary to sustain life for long periods of time. After a short period of time on a crash diet, nutritional deficiencies will begin to occur, according to the American Heart Association. Another problem with these diets is that most don't encourage any exercise, and exercise is an important component of a weight loss plan.
Weight Loss Supplements
Most over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss supplements haven't been sufficiently tested for effectiveness and most aren't approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some OTC weight loss supplements are unsafe. There is, however, one OTC weight loss supplement that is FDA approved. Alli is approved by the FDA and considered effective, but there have been some reports of liver damage associated with the product, states the Mayo Clinic.
Starvation or Fasting
Not eating or skipping meals is a bad way to lose weight because both of these methods put your body into starvation mode. If, for example, you skip breakfast, your metabolism slows down and your blood sugar drops, states Meals Matter. These factors decrease your energy level and make you hungry, both of which work against your weight loss program.
Eating Disorders
Binge eating, anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders that may lead to weight loss at the expense of your health. Binge eating occurs when you overeat to compensate for activities going on around you, such as eating when you are depressed. Anorexia occurs when you starve yourself in order to lose excessive amounts of weight. Bulimia occurs when you binge eat and then vomit or "purge" to compensate for the foods that were eaten. The National Eating Disorders Association reports that these disorders are treatable and preventable.
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