Is It Healthy To Lose A Lot Of Weight In A Short Time?

In order for the results to be long-lasting, it is convenient to lose weight in a controlled and unhurried way. With a balanced diet and exercise we can lose up to one kilo a week.

More than an aesthetic issue, losing pounds has become a necessity for overweight or obese patients.

And it is that, in addition to supporting that accumulated fat in their bodies, those who suffer from it are at a high risk of developing serious diseases.

What has been worrying health and nutrition experts are those mistakes people make in their desperate quest to lose weight.

Ignorance of the functioning of the body and advertising campaigns are factors that have influenced the constant errors to lose weight.

It is important to understand that the body has to gradually adapt to weight loss in order to keep it balanced.

Losing too much weight in a short time is the sign of a severe diet, excessive energy expenditure, or chronic diseases that require immediate attention.

Along with this , a series of reactions are triggered that lead to the failure of the diet or, in the worst case, to unwanted side effects.

Why is it not convenient to lose a lot of weight in a short time?

Losing a lot of pounds in a matter of days may seem like a miracle. However, behind this there are alterations in the body that, sooner or later, will take their toll.

Metabolic functions need time to adapt to the changes that the body undergoes after losing kilos, otherwise the hypothalamus will be affected.

The body can exhibit physical and emotional disturbances, including irritability, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.

On the other hand, as you receive less energy, episodes of fatigue, dehydration and retention of wastes also increase.

Increased risk of injury

This is a factor that we must all take into account, since a drastic loss of weight reduces muscle mass, that is, that which protects bones and joints.

If this weakening occurs in the muscles and constant physical activity is carried out, it is not surprising that various types of injuries develop.

Eating disorders

Thousands of patients with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia developed these conditions after entering the dynamic of losing many kilos in a few days.

The obsession to maintain the kilos achieved, and even lose much more, makes many go to the extreme, without being able to stop it.

You don’t have to stand in front of the mirror or weigh yourself every day to know how your figure is. The more we avoid obsessions, the less risk there is of falling into these diseases.

The hunger response

The hunger response is the term used to describe symptoms that occur due to a decrease in leptin.

This causes the metabolism to slow down, which causes a decrease in daily energy expenditure and an increased feeling of hunger.

What’s worse is that a strong craving to eat is triggered, causing the body to work to regain lost fat to ward off similar bouts of dietary restrictions.

In short, the popular rebound effect occurs and you fall into a vicious cycle of damaging weight gain and loss.

Other health risks

Low calorie diets based only on certain types of foods  lead to dangerous nutritional deficiencies that affect health in many ways. These possible effects include:

• Hair loss and weakness
• Weakening of the nails
• Chronic fatigue
• Concentration problems
• Loss of memory
• Weakening of the immune system

• Fluid imbalances
• Heart arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
• Muscle cramps

We recommend you read: 7 delicious drinks that will strengthen your immune system

Lose weight without rushing

The fact that the quick ways to lose weight involve all these risks does not mean that the task of losing weight is negative.

On the contrary, achieving a stable weight properly can have many benefits for physical and mental health.

The advantage of doing it gradually is that the results are maintained and there is less risk of regaining those lost kilos.

As if that were not enough, there are other health benefits:

• Cholesterol levels are lowered.
• There are fewer risks of heart disease.
• The circulation flows smoothly.

• The body removes toxins.
• The liver works in optimal conditions.
• Brain health improves.

In order not to fail in your attempt to lose weight, it is best to consult a nutritionist and ask about the most appropriate diet.

The key is to burn more calories than you consume, but without dietary restrictions or extreme diets.

Lose a little more than 1 kg a week eating in a balanced way, at least 3 times a day, and increasing the practice of physical exercises.