Fast Weight Loss

Is fast or quick weight loss even possible or healthy?

A typical weight loss program aims for fat loss in the region of 1-2 pounds per week (1/2 to 1 kg). The reason for this is to prevent subsequent weight gain due to the body suffering a rapid lowering in metabolism and to prevent loss of muscle.

However, there is a place for faster weight loss in certain circumstances. Fast weight loss is only really appropriate for those who are very overweight.

Do Any Fast Weight Loss Plans Work?

There are a number of quick weight loss programs that attempt to provide a nutritional balance supplied by a limited number of calories.

Top 3 Quick Weight loss Plans

Other fast weight loss diets fall into the category of a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) - this is where daily calorie intake is 800 calories or less. These diets - such as the HCG Diet, Cambridge Diet, or OptiFast really do need to be medically supervised due to the possible side effects.

These diets typically consist of meal replacement products and can only be sustained in the short term.

What Are The Risks Of Quick Weight Loss?

A University of Florida study showed that women who lost weight faster kept it off longer. This mainly was due to increased motivation, however, it only dealt with women who lost 1-1.5 pounds a week max.

Dangers of Quick Diets

• Unless properly balanced and supervised, there can be nutritional deficiencies that can cause potential health problems.
• Along with extremely restrictive calories often comes fatigue and irritability.
• Other issues such as constipation due to a lack of fiber can occur.
• Another issue is a lowered metabolism that can begin a pattern of yoyo dieting.
• Depending on your goals, fast weight loss can also include loss of muscle mass (catabolism) as well as fat - this is not desirable.

Who Can Use a Fast Weight Loss Program?

Weight loss programs that offer rapid weight loss are generally only suitable for people who are obese (a BMI of 30 and above). A person who is only mildly overweight will only really cause themselves problems in the long run.

Some VLCD's need a doctors authorization, but other fast weight loss diets (such as the previously mentioned Medifast) may be done without this.

What About Claims By Popular Diets?

Many popular diets offer a 2 week "induction" phase during which weight loss is substantial. However this is only really due to a severe restriction of carbohydrates where most that is lost is typically fluid or water weight.

Read more about these kind of induction phases here.