When it comes to losing weight, there is no shortage of avenues to reach your goal. However, determining what your goal should be may be trickier. Media outlets promote super-thin models and actors, which may not be realistic for most people. Don't try to set your weight-loss goals based upon what the media portrays as normal because this may cause you to lose too much weight.
Considerations
Healthy weight-loss parameters are dependent upon gender, stature, current weight and goal weight. Each person will have a different weight-loss goal, and based upon the parameters, a 50-pound weight loss may be too much for one person and not enough for another. Speak with your doctor to determine your healthy goal weight, as well as your current and goal body mass index.
Body Weight
Rounding to the nearest pound, the average height in the United States for men is 69 inches, or 5 ft., 9 inches tall; and for women, it is 64 inches, or 5 ft., 4 inches tall, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Rush University Medical Center, the healthy weight for men who are 69 inches tall ranges from 144 to 176 pounds. Women who are 64 inches tall have a healthy weight range of 108 to 132 pounds. Find your healthy weight range, and with your doctor's input, make that your goal. Losing too much weight can leave you feeling lethargic, anemic and may compromise your immune system.
Eating Disorders
Sometimes losing weight becomes more than simply losing a few pounds. Anorexia is a potentially deadly eating disorder identified by extreme weight loss and starvation. People suffering from anorexia suffer from an abnormal body image and resist keeping their body weight within normal ranges. Symptoms of anorexia include dramatic weight loss, denial of hunger, excessive exercise and a preoccupation with food, calories and weight. If you are concerned that you may be losing too much weight, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Considerations
There are no set guidelines for how much weight you should lose in a particular period of time; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a healthy weight loss of 1 to 2 lb. per week. Losing too much weight or losing it rapidly may cause loose skin, loss of muscle mass and nutrition deficiencies. You may also find yourself feeling depressed and that it takes longer for wounds to heal. For these reasons, and more, it is important to talk with your doctor before, during and after your weight-loss program begins so that you can ensure a healthier life now and in the future.
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