Despite the proliferation of fad diets that promise seemingly-impossible weight losses of more than 1 lb. every day, losing weight too fast can be dangerous. Potential problems can range from relatively mild gastrointestinal issues such as stomach upset and constipation to heart rhythm problems, gallstones and possibly even clogged arteries. If you're following a rapid weight loss diet or if you're planning to start one, see your physician first to make sure you're not risking your health.
Safe Weight Loss Rate
Losing weight at the rate of about 1 to 2 lbs. per week should represent a safe, reasonable option for most overweight people, but any more than that presents potential problems. When you lose lots of weight very quickly, your body actually believes it's starving, and cuts your metabolism accordingly. That negatively impacts your diet efforts.
Potential Health Consequences
When you're taking in fewer than about 1,200 calories each day -- enough to trigger your body to enter "starvation mode" -- you're not eating enough to prevent constipation. You also may be losing muscle mass instead of the fat you want to lose, and you may experience periodic dizziness, low iron levels that lead to anemia, and even menstrual irregularities as a result of your severely calorie-restricted diet.
Serious Health Consequences
Losing weight too fast also can wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system. Following a high-protein, low-fat liquid diet can lead to irregular heart beats, also known as heart arrhythmias. In addition, research from Beth Israel Medical Center indicates that a similar type of rapid weight-loss diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein may lead to clogged arteries.
Considerations
If you're under medical supervision as part of your rapid weight-loss diet, your physician can monitor you and potentially ward off any complications that occur as a result of losing weight too fast. Liquid diet weight-loss programs sponsored by major medical centers typically perform this type of monitoring as part of their services. But losing weight too fast without medical supervision can be dangerous, and you should check with your physician before beginning any type of fast weight-loss program.
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