Fluids, particularly water, play a vital role in overall health levels. About 60 percent of your body weight is made up of fluids, which are essential in regulating your body's systems. Conditions resulting in too much or too little fluid levels can have adverse health effects. Weight loss may cause a decrease in fluid levels, and in some cases, the levels need to be replenished.
Function
Fluids exist in your body in the form of blood, water, urine and body fluids. They function to flush toxins, transport nutrients, regulate body temperature and keep your ear, nose and throat moist. Water exists inside and outside of your cells and between your muscles and body fat, where excess water may be retained.
Effects
Fluid levels are affected by water loss during sweating, breathing and eliminating wastes from your body. Weight loss can deplete stored energy. When stored energy is used, both fat and water are depleted from your body. With significant amounts of weight loss, fluid levels may become very low resulting in dehydration. This can affect the balance of electrolytes, stored minerals in your body. Imbalances due to dehydration can lead to health problems such as fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, the inability to focus and ultimately, heart problems.
Significance
Fluids move in and out of your body on a daily basis. You lose 1.5 l of fluid daily through urine and another liter through breathing. Food and beverages allow you to replenish the lost fluid amounts. About 20 percent of replenished water comes from food with the rest coming from water. With weight loss, decreased food amounts may not fully replenish lost fluids amounts, according to MayoClinic.com. It may be necessary to increase water intake to make up for the lost fluids. Weight loss as a result of increased exercise may also increase the amount of fluids lost through sweating and breathing. It is important to replenish fluids lost through exercise.
Benefits
There are some benefits to reduced fluid levels in cases edema, or water retention. High-sodium foods can cause your body to hold fluids, resulting in excess fluid levels. This condition can cause high blood pressure, shortness of breath and increase the risk for heart disease. Diets low in sodium will flush out excess water and improve your health, says the American Association of Kidney Patients.
Considerations
Adequate fluid levels are an important part of maintaining optimal health levels. Significant weight loss may cause an unhealthy reduction of body fluids. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets will cause a significant amount of water loss resulting in dehydration. Weight-loss plans that include the use of diuretics, laxatives or forced vomiting will cause electrolyte imbalance and affect energy and lean body tissue storage.
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