It is a common occurrence to find individual troubled with excess weight. Different people have put up different weight loss programs to try to cut down on their weight and as a result, some have end up ruining their health without their knowledge. In order to lose weight, some have opted to diet to overcome the challenge. Dieting refers to a practice of eating food in a regulated pattern to decrease, maintain or increase body weight. There are four main categories of diets that are used to promote weight loss and these include; low-fat, low-carbohydrate, low-calorie and very low calorie. Extreme weight loss refers to a phenomenon where one loses more weight than the recommended weight. From a nutritional and a medical point of view, it is recommended that one should lose at most three pounds per week. There are instances where some people lose between 20-30 pounds. At face value this may be impressive for those who are desperately enthusiastic to lose weight. But the truth of the matter is that a serious health crisis may erupt. Below are some of the main health concerns that need to be studied carefully before enrolling for any weight loss program. Malnutrition This is a state of the body where it is denied the essential nutrients for normal physiological processes to take place. Food provides nutrients from six broad classes; proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and also of great importance, water. Carbohydrates are metabolized to provide energy, proteins provide amino acids which are required by for cell construction, especially for construction of muscle cells. Essential fatty acids are required for brain and cell membrane construction. Vitamins and trace minerals help to keep good electrolyte balance and are used for metabolic processes. Dietary fiber also promotes the digestive system although it is indigestible. For one to have a rapid weight loss, most people tend to severely restrict their diet, limiting the nutrients that they consume. As a result the right proportions of the main food elements, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are not met. After the depletion of these nutrients, their deficiencies are is fatal to the body. Fatigue It is a common knowledge that the food that we eat is metabolized to give us the energy needed to do our daily activities. At the same time, most programs of rapid weight loss tend to adopt a low caloric intake. This makes it difficult for the body to function properly. The energy supplied gives one the ability to exercise and as a result, more fat is burnt by the strong and health muscles. But when you adopt a low caloric diet, one will always be tired, sleepy and unable to exercise. Exercising is among the best ways of losing weight in a healthy way. Dehydration This is a condition of the body where one loses a lot of fluids within a given time without replacement. In an extreme weight loss program, most of the weight that is lost comes from water. This is in contrast to what happens during a normal weight loss; where the lost weight comes from fat and excess calories. Dehydration is a serious health condition and in extreme cases it can lead dysfunctional physiologic processes. This can be life threatening as it may cause unconsciousness and even comma. Nervous system disorders Since most people who lose their weight rapidly adopt strict dieting, the deficiency of glucose and other vital nutrients possess a great health risk to the nervous system. The nervous system utilizes a major portion of the glucose that we take. When dieting, a low caloric diet has a direct impact on the supply of glucose and as a result, hypoglycemia (Reduced blood glucose) may result in irritability, fainting, seizures and to some cases depression. Some people who have undergone extreme weight loss have reported to have difficulty in concentrating and unable to think clearly. Conclusion It is imperative that when making choices on how to lose weight one needs to have a thorough investigation on the merits and demerits of each weight loss program. This will prevent incidences that adversely affect our bodies. This is supported by the common saying that says "prevention is better than cure". Source
