Diet pills or fad diets have a strong appeal, especially if you're eager for quick results. People continue to try these methods out of desperation, even if they've been proven unsafe or ineffective. Though some of these diets can produce fast results, you're likely only losing water weight. Stopping the plan causes the weight to return. It's important to remember some of the ways quick weight loss diets can hurt your body's functioning if you're tempted to try them.
Muscle Loss
Fad diets often encourage severe calorie restriction to get quick results. Your body quickly instinctively goes into starvation mode due to the sharp decrease in calories and nutrients, so it resorts to using other sources of energy within your body to sustain itself. Your muscles are one of the primary sources. Muscles burn more calories than fat, so if you start losing muscle you'll have an even harder time trying to lose weight, says Helpguide.org.
Gallstone Development
Losing weight quickly increases your chances of developing gallstones, particularly if you're losing more than 3 lbs. a week, according to the Weight-control Information Network. Gallstones are most often made up of cholesterol, and fast weight loss can increase the amount of this substance in the gallbladder. It simultaneously decreases the amount of bile salts needed to break down fat. Losing weight quickly can also reduce the gallbladder's contractions that release bile. The excess bile contributes to the formation of gallstones as well.
Fatigue
Fad diets typically require you to restrict calories as well as certain food groups, such as carbohydrates. Excluding these foods keeps your body from getting vital nutrients needed for your organs' proper function, resulting in malnutrition. The result can make getting through the day a challenge because of symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness, says MedlinePlus. Being continually tired and feeling sick are other possible effects, says Helpguide.org.
Menstrual Irregularity
The poor nutrition associated with these kinds of diets can also cause menstruation irregularity in women, MedlinePlus says. Changing your diet drastically could even lead to amenorrhea, meaning menstruation has stopped. This is often seen in female athletes who resort to unhealthy dieting and intense physical activity to stay thin. Not getting enough calories and adequate nutrition can cause reduced estrogen production. This hormone is key in the regulation of menstrual periods and also contributes to good bone health, according to Kidshealth.
References
- Helpguide.org: Healthy Weight Loss and Dieting: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off
- Weight-control Information Network: Weight Loss and Nutrition Myths
- Weight-control Information Network: Dieting and Gallstones
- National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus: Malnutrition
- Nemours Foundation Kidshealth.org: Female Athlete Triad
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