The Negative Effects of Crash Dieting

Crash dieting this time of year is unfortunately pretty common. The holidays are in full swing, which means self-esteem ends up plummeting once we take stock of the roast dinner pounds we’ve piled on during our many seasonal feasts.

It can be easy to be tempted by the quick fix of a crash diet but this article lays out exactly how crash dieting can impact your body so you might just reconsider:

1. It can reduce your metabolic rate

A high metabolism is key to losing weight, but crash dieting can actually make your metabolic rate lower. Muscle breakdown is much greater with extreme dieting, rather than a steady prolonged approach. Less muscle reduces your metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn while resting and can ultimately result in weight gain later on.

2. It can weaken your immune system

By depriving yourself of essential minerals and vitamins you risk weakening your immune system. And we all know that a low immune system makes getting ill far more likely – not what you want at the start of a new year – or ever for that matter. If you cut out all fatty foods from your diet, absorbing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K may prove problematic. These vitamins are necessary as they help to support your immune system, so lacking in them could cause future issues.

3. It can cause ketone production

With a very low carbohydrate diet, your body may start to break down fatty acids to produce ketones. You might have heard of ketones if you’ve ever read up on the keto diet. Sure, it might cause you to drop a few pounds, but it’s also got some damaging side effects too, including nausea, bad breath and liver or kidney problems.

4. It can cause dehydration

Have you ever wondered why some diets, like juicing, lead to such quick weight loss? It’s because you’re losing water weight – but that’s not ideal for longer-term weight loss. Glycogen stores, which are a source of energy that binds water, are depleted faster than the fat cells releasing the water. So, when you start eating again, your body will replenish glycogen and water store and weight gain follows. You run the risk of dehydration as a result, which can manifest with a headache and dizziness.

5. It can trigger heart issues

Crash dieting can have some positive outcomes, for example, lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. But they can also have some potentially harmful effects on the heart as a result of increased heart fat levels which can occur. Anyone with heart problems should discuss with their doctor prior to embarking on a crash diet due to the risk of heart problems arising early on in the diet.

6. It can damage your hair and skin quality

If vanity’s your thing, this might convince you to avoid crash dieting. When you go on a crash diet, you limit the amount of vital vitamins and nutrients that your body absorbs. And this, in turn, may have a negative impact on your physical appearance. The lack of nourishment may be reflected in your hair, causing it to look lackluster, fall out and generally reflect your lack of the right vitamins. Similarly, your skin could be left feeling dry and you may experience an acne breakout.

7. It can disturb bowel habits

A crash diet can also result in some tummy trouble. If you are not getting the right nutrients in your diet, this could result in irregular or inconsistent bowel movements. Experts advise taking note of the consistency of your stool to work out whether your diet is healthy. If it is either too runny or very difficult to pass, it is a sign that you should make a dietary change.

8. It can leave you with low energy levels

While crash diets may lead to weight loss, most of this weight comes from the reduction of glycogen and water stores in the body which can result in the loss of energy, making you feel fatigued. Similarly, due to the reduction of vitamins and nutrients taken in while doing a crash diet, your body is unable to produce energy, leaving you feeling sluggish and tired.

9. It can make you irritable

Fad diets can trigger the release of corticosterone from the brain, which predisposes us to heightened stress levels, irritability and risk of depression. You may also experience poor concentration and disturbed sleep which can lead to fatigue.

An Alternative to Crash Diets

Rather than putting yourself under the pressure and perils of a crash diet, try to give yourself more time with regular realistic weight loss goals. With longer-term lifestyle changes you will be more likely to make a long-term difference of a more toned and healthy physique, while avoiding the turmoil of depriving yourself of a nutritious and balanced diet.