You’ve heard the advice a million times: Slow and steady wins the race. But then, you’re scrolling through social media and see a before-and-after photo of an acquaintance who lost double-digit kilos in days—and has a link to exactly how they did it. It’s tempting...
Their efforts may have earned her a smaller jeans size and plenty of clapping emojis, but their method might not be cause for celebration. While it’s true that some deprivation diets can lead to short-term success on the scale, experts say that quick weight loss is often unsustainable and, in many cases, unhealthy.
“It seems like everyone who wants to lose weight wants to lose it fast,” says Cheryl Mussatto, dietitian. That said, if you want to maintain your health and keep weight off, research suggests that a safe rate of weight loss averages ½ to 1 kilogram per week. Here’s why:
1. Restrictive dieting to speed up weight loss can leave you hungry (and hangry)
At first, ultra-restrictive rules that form the building blocks of most extreme weight loss plans may briefly cause your body and brain to feel better than it did before you jumped on the bandwagon—particularly if your old diet lacked balance or wholesome ingredients. “A so-called normal diet often consists of unhealthy, processed foods,” explains Dr. Sari Fine Shepphird, PhD, a Los Angeles-based psychologist. And when you change it up? “Feeling an initial rush of wellbeing isn’t entirely off the mark,” she confirms. But she doesn’t condone cleanses or crash diets, because any serotonin rush you might experience at the onset of your crash dieting is bound to be temporary.
Soon enough, extremely low-kilojoule diets can bring on side effects like nausea, constipation, insomnia, and irritability, according to Mussatto. And don’t be surprised if you also find yourself a splitting headache, low energy, and a bad mood after comfortably zipping up a dress that’s been feeling tight.
Oh, and as for “hanger,” the moodiness that kicks in when you’ve eaten too little? It’s real: A 2018 study published in the journal Emotion found that hunger may cause people to experience a negative, antisocial emotional state.
2. Fast weight loss strategies aren’t sustainable in real life
Following a restrictive or fasting diet during a week that includes eating with a partner, family, friends, coworkers, or clients will leave you saying “no” an awful lot—and probably stressing about what you’ll eat or avoid. Not only can this be logistically tricky (and a bit sad), but all that deprivation could eventually fuel cravings, so you overeat as soon as you’re out of crash-diet mode.
Bottom line: “Long-term, most people who try quick weight loss diets may lose some weight, but more times than not, they fail and usually struggle to keep weight off,” Mussatto says.
3. Fast weight loss programs can cut out nutrients you need
Crash diets that promote quick weight loss by eliminating say, entire food groups or macronutrients like carbohydrates, may cause you to miss out on essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs, according to a 2018 study published in Nutrients. Deficiencies in certain micronutrients can negatively impact your immune system, energy, mood, and even your sleep patterns. And what good is weight loss if you end up physically and mentally worse for wear?
4. Taking the wrong DIY weight loss approach can set your body up for trouble
It’s always smart to speak to your doctor before trying any new eating program. And when you do, they’ll likely warn you that there’s a general lack of research surrounding certain fad diets’ safety. It could be why experts recommend against trying common ones like the ketogenic diet without medical supervision.
The risks are real: In a 2018 study published in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers found that very low-kilojoule diets may cause a deterioration in heart function in some dieters.
In general, remember that whether or not a fad diet lowers your weight, the number on the scale doesn’t tell the whole story of your health.
5. Fast weight loss fixes can be unnecessarily expensive
Many supplements and special weight loss foods can seriously cost you. But are they effective? In general, no—or not for long. “A tried and true method for losing weight healthily and slowly takes into account several components, including tracking what you eat, moderation, and focusing on whole foods rather than processed foods,” Mussatto says. Because there’s no special tea, shake, or pill that can replace these pillars, spending money on them for short-term results is a waste. Watching your wallet and your weight? Start by making small changes to your eating habits, like swapping out sugary (and pricey) smoothies, specialty coffees, and sodas for water and unsweetened tea.
The bottom line:
“Any time a diet sounds too good to be true, it often is,” Mussatto says. For sustainable weight loss, try a program that helps you establish healthy habits and allows you to go out to dinner and enjoy your favourite foods—even if it takes you a bit longer to reach your weight loss goal.