Being overweight puts you in a "high-risk" category for many different obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension. Losing even a modest amount of weight -- 5 percent to 10 percent of your bodyweight -- can help reduce the risk of these health issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. However, sometimes more substantial weight loss is required. The solution is a diet plan referred to as a Very Low-Calorie Diet, or VLCD.
Calorie Requirements
A VLCD diet plan is a doctor-supervised program that greatly restricts the number of calories consumed each day, leading to dramatic weight loss results within a relatively short time. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, or WIN -- a division of the National Institutes of Health -- most VLCD diets allow you to consume 800 or fewer calories per day. The exact number of calories varies on a case-to-case basis and is determined by the patient's doctor.
Foods
These dramatic weight loss plans require a specialized meal plan consisting primarily of meal replacement foods, liquids and low-calorie foods high in nutritional value. Some physicians may recommend a high-protein diet consisting primarily of lean protein foods like chicken and fish. According to WIN, the meal replacement foods consumed on a VLCD program are different from the over-the-counter meal replacements you'd find at a health and fitness store. So, a doctor must prescribe these items.
Potential
While the CDC recommends a weight loss pace of 1 to 2 lbs. per week for the average adult, a VLCD diet plan often leads to 3 to 5 lbs. of weight loss per week, according to WIN. It also states that an average weight loss of 44 lbs. over the course of 12 weeks is not uncommon. This amount of weight loss can rapidly improve symptoms of obesity-related diseases, such as high blood pressure and poor cholesterol.
Safety
A VLCD diet plan is not for everyone. According to WIN, an ideal candidate has a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30. In some circumstances, patients with a BMI between 27 and 30 may also benefit from the dramatic weight loss offered by a VLCD. Minor side effects are common on a VLCD, including nausea, constipation and fatigue. These symptoms often go away within a few weeks. To ensure the patient's safety, a VLCD diet is monitored by a doctor on a weekly basis.
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