UNSAFE WEIGHT LOSS METHODS

By Rick Morris

Because of their promises of quick and effort free weight loss, many unsafe weight loss approaches are easily available to us. Using these methods of weight loss can cause many health problems, especially over time.

FASTING

Fasting is a widely used method of weight loss because it gives fast results. With little or no calories being consumed, weight is, of course, lost because the body is feeding off of its self. Up to 50 percent of the weight lost is from lean body mass, which is muscle. This is a very undesirable result and is the last thing you want to happen when you want to reduce body fat.

Lean body mass or muscle, is the fat burning engines of your body. When your body eats muscle for nutrition, you are losing these metabolic engines which are needed to burn your body fat. As a result, when you start eating again, more of the calories are stored as fat rather than being burned for energy. This is the yo yo diet syndrome that you have probably read about. The more you starve yourself, the more muscle you lose and the fatter you get. In addition to losing lean body mass, fasting results in malnutrition and loss of important minerals.

FAD OR TRENDY DIETS

Ask any of your friends about diets. Every one of them has probably heard of at least half a dozen new diets. These new diets appear at an almost humorous rate. They appear so quickly because the developers of the diets and the authors of the books get rich off the sales. Many of these diets are unsafe and untested. Any diet that is extremely high or extremely low in protein or carbohydrate consumption, should be considered risky. While many of this diet can result in quick weight loss (usually water weight), they can have serious health consequences. Osteoporosis, mineral loss, kidney damage, muscle loss and malnutrition are all risks of an inappropriate diet.

 If you must use one of these fad diets, it should include the following factors.

• A permanent lifestyle change.
• A permanent exercise program.
• Adequate levels of protein and carbohydrates.
• Moderately reduced calorie consumption.
• Lower levels of fat consumption.
• Realistic weight loss goals (no more than 5 pounds per month)
• Food choices that you can live with.
• Program that is tailored to the individual. We are not all alike and all diets with not work with everyone.

DIET DRUGS

Diet drugs should be approached with extreme caution. Most diet drugs work by affecting the hypothalamus. It will decrease feelings of hunger and increase satiety or the feeling of fullness. Many of these drugs are not sufficiently tested and can have dangerous side effects. A good example of this are the popular drugs Phentermine and Fenfluramine. These are more commonly known as Phen Fen. Many doctors prescribed these drugs for weight loss. While successful weight loss has been reported, the weight is regained after drug use is discontinued. In addition, several serious health problems, including pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems have been associated with the use of these drugs.

Diet drugs have become very popular because they are viewed as a “magic pill”. Dieters are always on the lookout for a quick and easy weight loss cure. The dieters hope is that the magic pill will provide weight loss without effort and without changing the unhealthy lifestyle that caused the weight problem. Drugs are not the answer for most, and in many cases can cause many more serious problems.

VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS

Very low calorie diets, diets with less than 800 kcal per day, are appropriate only for dangerously obese persons. These diets must be supervised by medical professionals. Very low calorie diets are usually liquid meal that has a high protein content to decrease the cannibalism of lean body mass. Long term success of these diets have been disappointing. This lack of success is probably due to a lack of long term lifestyle change. It is stressed that this type of diet is only for the dangerously obese and a physician must supervise all aspects of the diet.

None of the weight loss methods outlined above are the preferred method of weight loss. Many are dangerous. None of them will result in permanent weight loss without a lifestyle change. Stick to the basics. Eat healthy, eat smaller portions, and most important get active. Make exercise a part of your everyday life. Do that and you will soon reach your healthy weight.