Will Eating Too Few Calories Make You Gain Weight?

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2015 | By Marysia Walcerz

Marysia Walcerz

Marysia Walcerz has been writing since 2008. She has been published in several compilations of artistic and philosophical work, including "Gender: Theory in Practice" and "Retold Comics." Walcerz has a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts and philosophy from The Evergreen State College.

Will Eating Too Few Calories Make You Gain Weight? — Careful planning is necessary for effective weight loss. Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images

To lose weight you must expend more calories than you consume. However, many people begin a weight-loss program determined to lose weight as quickly as possible and cut back their caloric intake dramatically. This can result in your body going into starvation mode and retaining calories. To lose weight healthily, you should determine your ideal daily caloric intake and craft an exercise program that fits your goals. Discuss your weight-loss plans with your doctor before beginning.

To understand weight loss, look first at metabolism. The metabolic process converts calories from food into energy for physical activity. While metabolic rates differ according to age, gender, height, weight and activity level, the ideal metabolism works quickly to burn food calories so as not to accumulate excess fat deposits from unused calories. The speed of your metabolism depends on many factors, including age, genetics, sex and body size and composition. While you can't significantly affect the speed of your metabolism, you can affect your diet and physical activity to promote healthy weight loss.

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Many people erroneously assume that a dramatic cutback in caloric intake will result in rapid weight loss. When you suddenly drop your caloric intake, your metabolism responds by slowing down, putting your body into starvation mode. According to Riverside Medical Clinic, a slow metabolism rarely causes weight gain. When reduced caloric intake slows your metabolism, it causes your body to conserve calories by leeching nutrients from body tissues, such as muscle. This can result in no weight loss, and can possibly cause weight gain.

Under-eating can sabotage a diet in more than one way. When a slowed metabolism halts weight loss, many people become frustrated with their inability to lose weight from rapid calorie cutting and begin to binge on fatty foods to curb their hunger. This causes the "yo-yo" effect, where periods of extreme starvation follow periods of eating too much.

Lose weight in a healthy, productive fashion by working with your metabolism, not against it. Consult a health professional or trainer to determine the ideal caloric intake for your body type and weight to lose weight. Combine your diet with a program of regular exercise that will help burn off more calories than you consume in a day. Over time, a sustainable healthy lifestyle will result in effective weight loss.