Is Rapid Weight Loss Good for Me?

Rapid weight loss is considered one or more kilograms (2.2 pounds) in a week for a sustained period of time. Many doctors would want to perform an assessment if you have lost more than five percent of your body weight in six to twelve months. For instance, if a patient weighs one hundred and twenty-five pounds, a five percent weight loss would mean dropping seven and a half pounds in half a year to a year.
 
That said, many health professionals recommend weight loss to be at a steady rate of one to two pounds per week, so what is considered “rapid” weight loss can still be perfectly healthy. Rapid is not synonymous with dangerous, though it could be damaging to an already low weight individual.

Most physicians and fitness professionals believe that weight loss is most effective and safe when lost at a rate of one to two pounds per week. Losing weight slower than this is completely safe, though it may not be as effective. To determine the optimal rate of weight loss, it is best to consult with a healthcare professional that can provide answers based on your current weight, health, and weight loss methods. Generally, what determines the health level of weight loss is how it is performed and maintained.

The term “rapid” weight loss does not always reflect dangerous weight loss and can be entirely healthy and safe if done right. Generally, it is not recommended you lose more than two to three pounds per week, though the weight loss mechanism is much more critical in determining if it is healthy. Many patients who want to lose weight will do so ineffectively and will likely gain the weight later.
 
This is because fad diets and excessive exercise are often turned to when realistically, a balanced combination of nutrition and exercise is optimal. The results of weight loss techniques are more likely to be maintained if the primary goal is to become healthier rather than achieve a slimmer look. It is incredibly unhealthy to skip meals, starve yourself or engage in purging, which includes purposeful vomiting and inappropriate use of laxatives.
 
Restrictive diets that are popularized often fail; instead, you should increase the number of whole foods in your daily intake, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Similarly, detoxes cleanse, and miracle weight loss medications should be avoided as these can cause electrolyte imbalances and do more harm than good. It is of utmost importance to continue to supply your body with the needed nutrients to maintain healthy weight loss.

Losing too much weight too quickly can cause serious harm to the body and possibly long-term damage. Nutritional deficiencies and dehydration are the two major concerns, as decreased food intake and excessive exercise can cause this. Both malnutrition and dehydration can have severe effects as it deprives all of the body’s structures of the nutrients needed to function correctly.
 
In addition, your heart may be heavily affected, as the blood vessels and heart muscle atrophy and weaken, subsequently causing fluctuations in heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure. Further, you are at increased risk for heart failure. Gallstones are also frequently seen in patients who have had dramatic weight loss, as cholesterol levels increase in the bile and can form hard deposits, “gallstones,” in the gallbladder.
 
Here at: Portsmouth Family Care, we offer numerous medical services that help you achieve the aesthetic you desire, including medical weight loss programs. If you are interested in this service, please do not hesitate to give our office a call or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Portsmouth NH, Newington NH, Durham NH, Madbury NH, Dover NH, Greenland NH, Stratham NH, and Newfields NH.