In this face-paced world where instant gratification is desired, it is only natural that people who need to lose weight would want to do so as fast as possible. Many people turn to crash diets, which promise rapid weight loss. While this idea seems ideal, the rapid weight loss and severe limiting of foods can have negative effects.
Signs
A crash diet severely limits foods from certain food groups. In some cases, the menu or list of allowed foods will come from only one or two of the six food groups. In addition, most crash diets don't require exercise, and many require you to take pills or dietary supplements. Any diet that promises a weight loss greater than that recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is 1 to 2 lbs. per week, and meets most of the criteria here can usually be classified as a crash diet.
Effects
Crash diets and rapid weight loss may have desirable short-term weight loss promises. However, it is very unlikely that you will be able to keep this weight off once you stop the diet. This leads to a cycle of dieting followed by weight gain and dieting again, which is called yo-yo dieting. This cycle can lead to eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, states Epigee. It may also lead to other mental health issues, such as depression.
Warning
There are some serious and long-term health risks associated with crash diets and rapid weight loss. These include malnutrition, which is caused by the severe limitation of foods you can consume. When you don't eat the foods necessary to live, your body goes into starvation mode, which is a form of malnutrition. Other health complications include organ damage, including damage to the kidneys and heart, and osteoporosis.
Considerations
According to the Mayo Clinic, rapid weight loss may be suitable for obese patients who are under a doctor's care. In some cases, doctors will prescribe a very low-calorie diet for an obese person to lose weight quickly---sometimes to save the person's life. It is important to note that patients who are prescribed a diet like this usually get prescription drinks or shakes to ensure that they get all the nutrients necessary to survive, they are only on the diet for a limited time, and they are monitored closely by the doctor.
Alternatives
The healthy alternative to crash dieting is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that is based on eating a balanced diet and exercising. By changing your lifestyle, you are less likely to regain the weight you lost once you reach your goal weight. You should eat foods each day from all of the six food groups recognized by the USDA's MyPyramid. These include fruits, vegetables, protein and beans, whole grains, milk and oil. You should also do 60 to 90 minutes of exercise on most days of the week, which is recommended for individuals who are trying to lose weight by the American College of Sports Medicine.
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