Diet that 'promises' fast weight loss named dangerous
The "seven-day" diet that harms health has been named (photo: Freepik)
A popular "seven-day" diet, which allegedly leads to rapid weight loss, can seriously harm your health. A doctor has outlined the main risks of this eating regimen and explained why it should be avoided, reports Plymouth Live.
What is known about the "seven-day" diet
Dr. Donald Grant warned that although drastic diets may initially seem effective, they carry significant health risks.
"In the digital age, social media is constantly feeding us advice on how we should amend diets and approaches to eating. Unfortunately, this can often give way to the rise of unsafe eating measures, such as crash diets, which can have both short-term and long-term health implications," he added.
One dieting trend currently gaining popularity online is the seven-day quick diet plan. This diet consists of a fixed seven-day meal schedule where certain foods are restricted, often resulting in extreme calorie deficits and rapid weight loss.
The expert noted that such a strict approach can lead to quick weight loss due to the calorie deficit. The absence of dairy products can limit calcium intake, resulting in a deficiency.
Dr. Grant cautioned that extremely low calorie intake might be effective for weight loss, but it is not worth the associated health consequences.
Following a rigid diet for an extended period can increase the risk of muscle loss, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies, and can be especially dangerous for diabetics or pregnant women.
Instead, people should combine healthy, balanced eating with regular physical activity to achieve safe results.
Health risks of "crash" diets
Nutrient deficiency
For the body to function properly, it needs a balanced range of key nutrients, often obtained from various foods.
A restrictive diet can limit certain foods, making it difficult to obtain vital nutrients and minerals, for example, fiber. This can lead to extreme fatigue and affect the immune system.
Dehydration
Rapid weight loss can often lead to dehydration. This is because initial weight loss is mostly water, not fat. This is a tactic used by boxers and is often criticized for being unsafe.
Dehydration can cause many symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.
Impact on metabolism
When we restrict calorie intake, the body responds accordingly. Over time, it may burn fewer calories as metabolism slows down due to changes in eating habits.
This can be problematic, as a slower calorie burn can make weight management more difficult.
Earlier, we revealed the diet that reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack by 14%.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
