What Are the Symptoms of Losing Weight Too Fast?

What Are the Symptoms of Losing Weight Too Fast?
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Fad diets promise quick weight loss, but losing weight too fast can cause health problems. Shed pounds at a slow steady pace by switching to a healthy diet and adding exercise to your weekly routine. This offers a solution to being overweight that won't overtax your body. Simply eliminating 100 calories a day from your diet, as recommended by HelpGuide.org, can help you lose 10 lbs. in 12 months.

Reduced Metabolic Rate

Going on a calorie-reduced diet that results in weight loss of more than 2 to 3 lbs. a week is not recommended by nutrition professionals, according to the Department of Nutrition at Ohio State University. Losing weight at a rate faster than prescribes makes your body thinks it's starving due to inadequate calorie intake and slows down your basic metabolic rate. This results in what is known as a weight-loss plateau, where you stop losing weight.

Gallstones

Losing more than 3 lbs. per week makes you more likely to develop gallstones. Gallstones, found in the gallbladder, vary in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball and may require medical attention. The faster you lose weight, the greater your risk is of developing gallstones.

Absence of Menstruation

Women who lose weight too quickly may temporarily stop menstruating. This condition, known as primary or secondary amenorrhea, results from factors including drastic weight reduction, eating disorders and too much exercise. The remedy to this symptom begins with the resumption of a proper diet and cutting back on your workout program.

Bone Density Loss

Crash diets promise quick weight loss. However, a drastic calorie reduction resulting quick weight loss may decrease your bone density, muscle strength and immune system efficiency. Gastric bypass surgery produces very fast weight loss for the first three to six months, and this comes at a cost. Anticipate a number of symptoms including body aches, dry skin, moodiness and hair loss until your weight loss slows down.

References

Article reviewed by Jeannette Belliveau Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

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