7 Side Effects of Rapid Weight Loss

 


You’ve probably heard of the phrase healthy weight loss before – and it’s an important concept to keep in mind as you shed pounds, especially if you’re doing so at an incredibly rapid pace. While people often think that losing weight quickly will help them reach their fitness goals faster, it actually has the opposite effect. Rapid weight loss can cause seven common side effects that make achieving your fitness goal harder than ever before, including dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, mood changes, and more.

 

Side Effects of Rapid Weight Loss

Rapid weight loss can have side effects including headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. In rare cases rapid weight loss can also be a sign of a serious condition. If you are losing weight at an unusually fast rate or feel weak or sick it's important to see your doctor right away. Your doctor will make sure that you aren't dehydrated and work with you on making sure your diet is healthy. If everything is fine don't worry too much about how quickly you're losing weight but if something feels off be sure to check it out.

 7 Risks of Rapid Weight Loss


1. Muscle Loss

One of the side effects of losing weight quickly is muscle loss. This happens for two reasons. First, as you lose weight, you are likely going to decrease your physical activity level. Second, even if you maintain your regular workout routine, muscles that aren't getting used can deteriorate and start atrophying from disuse. So whether or not you work out regularly during rapid weight loss, it's important to maintain or slightly increase your physical activity level to help mitigate muscle loss caused by reduced calorie intake and increased calorie burn.

 

2. Metabolic Changes

As your body burns more calories, it is likely that you’ll notice a change in your energy levels. The majority of people who lose weight experience an increase in their energy levels, but for some it can mean a feeling of fatigue instead. Either way, if you start to notice symptoms like decreased energy or increased tiredness, check with your doctor just to be sure that nothing is medically wrong. These changes are usually only temporary and will subside once your body has adjusted to its new weight. Once they do, you’ll feel back to normal!

 

3. Nutrient Deficiencies

The biggest side effect of rapid weight loss is likely to be a nutrient deficiency, says Linda Bacon, PhD, author of Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight. This is because your body needs nutrients (vitamins and minerals) to digest food and lose weight. If you're losing weight too quickly, you might not be getting enough nutrients—and your body could react by storing those missing nutrients as fat. It's like when you start eating too much salt, she says. Your body holds onto every last bit. That's why going on crash diets or extremely restrictive fad diets can set off an unhealthy cycle where your body doesn't get any nutrition it needs—so it hangs onto what little it does have.

 

4. Gallstone Formation

Your gallbladder is an organ that’s meant to store bile. Bile can help digest fats and absorb nutrients from your food, but sometimes people who lose weight quickly don’t give their body enough time for it to adjust properly. Rapid weight loss makes it more likely you’ll end up with gallstones. Your liver releases excess amounts of cholesterol when you lose weight, and these fatty deposits can form in your gallbladder as stones that could eventually block your bile duct and cause excruciating pain. To avoid complications like these, doctors recommend avoiding rapid weight loss and following a healthy diet instead.

 

5. Dehydration

Being dehydrated can cause your muscles to tighten and cramp. Drinking enough water is especially important when you’re losing weight, as it keeps your kidneys functioning properly. The Institute of Medicine recommends women consume 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day and men consume 13 cups (3 liters). That’s not counting beverages you may add to meals or snacks; those additional sources can tack on an extra 1 to 2 cups (0.25 to 0.5 liters) each day—and that’s before alcohol consumption is taken into account.

 

6. Electrolyte Imbalance

A drop in your body’s sodium levels can cause dehydration, which makes you feel fatigued and confused. Muscle cramps, headaches, and joint pain may also develop as a result of low sodium levels in your system. To lose weight safely but quickly, be sure to consume foods that are high in electrolytes; in particular, potassium and magnesium. Bananas are one of my favorite sources—just make sure you peel them first! They contain a high amount of potassium but they’re also very high in natural sugar, so it’s important to keep an eye on how many you eat each day. You should have no more than two or three per day.

 

7. Fatigue

The sudden drop in calorie intake means your body doesn’t have enough energy to run properly. You might feel tired, dizzy or lightheaded—signs that you need to add more calories. Talk to your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet; he can help you determine how much and how quickly you should cut back on calories. Drink a glass of juice, have a few nuts or drink an extra cup of tea each day until you feel better.


Causes of Rapid Weight Loss

Certain individuals get in shape purposefully for better wellbeing. Notwithstanding, there can be many purposes behind intense weight reduction. A portion of these elements will cause you to get more fit easily. Certain purposes are:

 

Eating Disorders

People who are prone to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia can also experience some weight loss side effects as a result. In addition to starvation, they may feel weak and lethargic due to low levels of nutrients in their body. With rapid weight loss diets, these people will typically reach their goal weight—and then gain most if not all that weight back soon after. They also suffer from electrolyte imbalances and bone mineral loss.

 

Disease Conditions

Sometimes weight loss isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Aside from preventing obesity-related illnesses, rapid weight loss can have serious side effects that you should be aware of before trying. In fact, studies show that around a third of dieters who lose more than 10 percent of their body weight gain more than half that amount back within 5 years, and almost a quarter end up heavier than when they started dieting in the first place. For women especially, dramatic changes in eating habits and exercise routines can have long-term consequences for your bones and reproductive system. Losing weight too quickly is also associated with mental health problems such as depression and an increased risk for self-harm.

 

Metabolic Diseases

Some weight loss methods, like crash diets, cause such a rapid loss of water weight that they can lead to metabolic diseases such as hyponatremia (low sodium levels), acidosis (excessively acidic blood), and hypokalemia (low potassium levels). These side effects are commonly associated with eating disorders but can also be caused by some drug treatments for obesity.

 

Medications

There are side effects to taking any medication and weight loss drugs are no exception. If you’re trying to lose weight, make sure your doctor is aware of all medications you’re taking—even over-the-counter drugs like Advil or Tylenol can cause unwanted side effects when combined with weight loss drugs.