Health Consequences of Dangerous Dieting

The negative health effects of being overweight or obese have been well-documented, but that doesn't mean all efforts to lose weight are inherently beneficial to one's health. In fact, individuals who resort to drastic measures to rid themselves of excess or unwanted weight risk significant consequences as a result.

Plans, devices, or substances that are promoted as quick fixes for weight problems often lead to "yo-yo" dieting (losing a large amount of weight, then gaining it all back) in which the dieter ends up larger than ever, and with additional health problems. Fasting or fad diets can have similar effects on one's weight and health, and can deprive the body of essential nutrients in the process. Members of today's instant gratification society may not want to hear this, but contrary to what the television commercials and Internet advertisements may suggest, almost all experts agree that "slow and steady" is the best approach to healthy weight loss.

COMMON CONSEQUENCES

The following are a few of the common consequences that can result from unhealthy efforts to lose weight:

Dehydration - The composition of the human body is about two-thirds water, and the initial results experienced in most diet programs reflect the loss of excess water. Some programs appear to deliver on their promise of rapid and dramatic weight loss by employing techniques to maximize water loss. Not only is this weight likely to be quickly regained, but prolonged or excessive water deprivation can lead to serious health consequences. Dehydration can cause physical weakness, dizziness, and decreased production of urine, sweat, and tears. Extreme cases can lead to kidney failure, coma, and even death.

Electrolyte imbalance - Found in fluids such as blood and plasma, electrolytes are electrically charged salts that are used by cells to send nerve impulses and muscle-contraction messages throughout the body. Because electrolytes are fluid-based, drastic water loss through extreme dieting or vomiting can rapidly lower the amount of these essential substances. Depleting the body's supply of electrolytes can lead to irregular heartbeat, abnormal blood pressure, and nerve disorders. Other effects include confusion and bone damage.

Hair loss - Extreme weight loss is listed as one of the risk factors for a condition known as "telogen effluvium," in which a shock to the body's system results in considerable and dramatic hair loss. Human adults lose an average of 100 hairs a day, most of which are replaced by new follicles. Traumatic events such as rapid drastic weight loss can disrupt the hair growth process, sending follicles into an extended rest period and resulting in the shedding of one's existing hair.

Heart problems - A May 15 article on HealthDay News reported that researchers who were studying diet pills available for purchase over the Internet discovered that eight of the 12 brands they bought contained ingredients with potentially life-threatening cardiac side effects. Dr. Alireza Nazeri of the Texas Heart Institute, who authored the study, noted that one purchase included ma huang, which has been banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2004. According to information provided by the Mayo Clinic, ma huang (also known as Chinese ephedra) has been associated with high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Malnutrition - One of the primary dangers of extreme or unorthodox diets is that many advocate the elimination of key sources of essential nutrients. Attempting to subsist solely on cabbage soup, green tea, or other "superfoods" may result in a temporary weight loss, but the damage inflicted upon the body in the process can outlast those fleeting benefits. As Rebekah Stark, a registered dietician with Longview (Texas) Regional Medical Center, told Charm magazine in 2007, "Any diet that severely restricts you from eating an entire food group isn't a good idea. Whether it's no meats or no carbs, these diets violate a key phrase in nutrition: balanced meal."

Weakness - When the body is deprived of nutrients from food sources, it begins to convert muscle tissue for fuel. Individuals who attempt to follow ultra-low-calorie diets (for example, taking in 1,000 calories per day) accelerate the depletion of lean muscle tissue, which can cause muscle atrophy, a decrease in bone mass, and an increased percentage of fat in the body. Decreased muscle mass also leads to a reduced metabolism, meaning the body will burn calories at a slower rate.

AVOIDING THE RISK

As in many other areas of life, individuals who find themselves wading through the wealth of weight loss "advice" that is available today would be wise to remember the cliché: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Pills, programs, and products that offer quick, dramatic results with little or no effort can run the gamut from deceptive to deadly.

The academic medical center at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics advises individuals to ask the following five questions when evaluating a diet plan:

1. Does the diet promise a loss of more than two pounds per week?

2. Does the advertisement or promotional information include testimonials from people who have had unbelievable success using the program?

3. Does the diet advise participants to eat an excess of any one food or nutrient (for example, grapefruit, cabbage, or protein)?

4. Does the person who developed the diet or product hold a questionable credential or a degree from an unknown institution?

5. Does the diet advocate the consumption of fewer than 1,200 calories each day?

According to information on the medical center's website, even one "yes" answer indicates that the program being considered is not a safe and healthy weight-loss process.

THE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE

One of the primary problems with the word "diet" is it can evoke thoughts of a drastic and temporary reduction in eating, followed by a return to one's "normal" habits once a weight goal has been met.

In place of "diet advice," more reputable physicians and other health experts are now advising overweight individuals to think in terms of healthy behaviors such as making balanced, nutritious meals and regular exercise permanent parts of one's life. Individuals who adopt this philosophy are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, and are less likely to experience the side effects that extreme dieters put themselves at risk of experiencing.

As Rebekah Stark observed in Charm magazine, "The word ‘diet' is obsolete. It's a lifestyle modification. Slow and steady wins the race, so take some time to develop a plan that you like."