Is It Bad to Lose Weight Too Quickly?
When you’re ready to slim down, you want to make it happen now. But most health experts say rapid weight loss isn’t the way to go. It can sabotage your long-term weight loss goals and may hurt your health, too. Why is it bad to lose weight quickly? Endocrinologist and obesity specialist Marcio Griebeler, MD, explains why slow and steady wins the weight-loss race — and how to do it.
What is rapid weight loss? There’s no magic number that qualifies as “rapid weight loss.” Your weight, age and activity level determine what that term means for you. Don’t worry too much about the number of pounds you should (or shouldn’t) lose. Instead, look at the diet plan you’re following to lose weight. Extreme diets with lofty promises usually fall under the “rapid weight loss” category.
“Avoid super restrictive diet plans because they’re difficult — if not impossible — to keep up over the long term,” says Dr. Griebeler. “If the diet plan isn’t something you can stick to for months or years, it’s probably a fast weight loss plan. And those plans and gimmicks aren’t a healthy, sustainable way to lose weight.”
Excerpted from Health Essentials
