What Is An Extreme Crash Diet?

Almost 50 percent of Americans diet to lose weight at one time or another, according to California State University at Long Beach. If you struggle with being overweight or are medically obese, dieting to lose weight can help you both medically and emotionally. However, going on an extreme crash diet is dangerous and rarely results in long-term, sustainable weight loss.

Identification

An extreme crash diet is a type of program that you may be tempted to follow in order to lose weight very rapidly. The phrase "extreme crash diet" gives you an indication of the nature of the diet plan. Rather than following a diet regimen which recommends healthy caloric levels and a range of healthy foods, an extreme crash diet may require you to limit your caloric intake below 1,000 calories per day, consume only one type of food or severely limit your food choices. This type of diet may also direct you to exercise for long periods of time each day in addition to restricting food.

Risks

The risks of extreme crash dieting range from developing unhealthy attitudes towards food to harming yourself physically. When you reduce you calories below a sustainable level, you may suffer from a lack of physical energy, feel extremely hungry, experience fatigue and even suppress your immune system. The longer you stay on an extreme crash diet, the more likely it is you will experience negative health risks. Additionally, when you are on this type of diet your metabolism may begin to slow, making it more difficult to lose weight. In fact, you may even begin to gain weight as your body attempts to hold onto fat stores, according to George Rapitis, one of the authors of the book "Ask the Nutritionists."

Expert Insight

An extreme crash diet may cause you to develop a serious heart arrhythmia, which in some cases can lead to death, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The lack of nutrients in an extreme crash diet that relies solely on liquid nutrition rather than a healthy blend of foods is the most dangerous of these diets. As a result, you should avoid any liquid diet unless you are under the constant supervision of a licensed physician or nutritionist.

Alternatives

These diets may produce short-term, impressive amounts of weight loss. However, in order to lose weight and keep it off, you should instead follow a more balanced and long-term diet recommended by either your physician or developed by a medical professional. Reputable commercial weight loss centers in your area can offer sound nutritional advice, weekly meetings and weight loss programs developed by a medical board. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid.gov website, for example, offers free individualized diet plans based on your caloric needs and age.

Warning

If you find yourself struggling to maintain a healthy weight due to unhealthy dieting patterns, you may have an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. If you suspect that this might be the case, you should immediately seek help from your family doctor or school counselor. Counseling and lifestyle interventions can help you learn healthy eating habits and possibly avoid some of the health-related dangers of extreme dieting.