UNDERSTANDING THE DANGERS OF CRASH DIETING

Contributor:
Shreyas Sanjay,
Sports/Clinical Nutritionist,
WildFit

Crash dieting refers to a drastic and often unsustainable approach to weight loss, typically involving severe calorie restriction or extreme dietary changes over a short period. While crash diets might yield rapid results initially, they can have negative consequences for both physical and mental health.

Physically, crash dieting can lead to nutritional deficiencies, muscle loss, decreased metabolism, and fatigue. Mentally, it can promote unhealthy attitudes towards food and body image, as well as increase the risk of developing eating disorders. Additionally, most people who engage in crash dieting regain the weight they lost once they return to their normal eating habits.

A more balanced approach to weight loss, focusing on long-term lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, is generally considered safer and more effective. It’s important to prioritize health and well-being over quick fixes when it comes to weight management.

Few examples of crash dieting include:

The Cabbage Soup Diet: This involves consuming primarily cabbage soup along with a few other specific foods for a week or so. It severely restricts calories and can lead to rapid weight loss, but it lacks essential nutrients and is not sustainable long-term.
The Lemon Detox Diet (Master Cleanse): This diet involves consuming a beverage made of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water for several days to a week. It is extremely low in calories and nutrients, and proponents claim it can detoxify the body, but it can be harmful and is not supported by scientific evidence.
Liquid Fasting or Juice Cleanses: These involve consuming only liquids such as fruit or vegetable juices, smoothies, or water for a set period, often ranging from a few days to a week. While proponents claim they can detoxify the body and promote weight loss, they lack essential nutrients and can be harmful if followed for an extended period.
Fruit only diet: This involves consuming only various fruits throughout the day , which is not enough to meet a humans daily caloric requirement.
One meal a day diet: This involves skipping one or two meals in a single day, in hopes to lose weight at a faster rate for a particular duration of time.

These examples of crash diets typically promise quick results but often fail to provide long-term weight loss or overall health benefits. They can also lead to negative side effects and should be approached with caution or avoided altogether.
Following a balanced meal pattern with addition of essential macro and micro nutrients is the way to go!