The weight loss industry offers endless diet options designed to offer rapid weight loss. Many of these plans drastically restrict your calorie intake and some require fasting. Health organizations such as MayoClinic.com warn that crash diets that promote the body's starvation can result in a variety of undesirable health issues.
Slowed Metabolism
When your diet restricts the amount of calories you consume you body will automatically adjust to conserve energy. If you stop consuming food and starve yourself in order to lose weight, your body's metabolism will slow down. Although you may lose weight you also risk slowing down the rate at which you body burns food, so when you return to your normal caloric intake you may have a harder time burning calories and maintaining a stable weight, as a healthy metabolism is essential to weight management.
Muscle Wasting and Dehydration
MayoClinic.com notes that many crash diets that encourage dieters to refrain from eating do result in weight loss, but the majority of weight lost is due to water weight or a loss of muscle tissue. This type of dieting does not encourage the body to burn fat deposits, and as a result, you may retain body fat while losing muscle tone. Dehydration and lack of nutrients will also leave you feeling weak and fatigued.
Mood Changes
A lack of adequate calorie intake can result will result in low blood sugar levels and a general lack of energy. Most people experience feelings of irritability, drowsiness and listlessness when they become malnourished and fatigued. Over the long run, a lack of proper food intake can also lead to marked depression and accompanying lack of motivation.
Expert Insights
MayoClinic.com notes that healthy dieting should encourage no more than one to two pounds of weight loss per week. Consult with a doctor or dietitian regarding healthy weight loss goals and your personal caloric intake for a successful weight loss program. A balanced diet with controlled levels of calories, fat and sugar is the best option for long-term weight loss success.
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