How Fast Is Too Fast to Lose Weight?
Healthful Vitality | 03/07/2022 | How fast is too fast to lose weight?
Most obese individuals would like to lose weight as fast as possible. However, such an approach may not be the right way of weight loss.
All obese individuals have gained body weight over the years, and not overnight. The human body always tries to adjust to the new norm slowly. It tries to compensate for the weight gain by producing more hormones, increasing blood flow, maintaining stomach size, and much more
Once in a specific state for a considerable amount, various body organs do their best to remain in that state. They try to maintain what in medical language is called homeostasis.
It is worth understanding that in obesity, even the structure of internal organs is changed. For example, a person living with obesity for several years may have a larger heart size. Thus, sudden weight loss may disrupt homeostasis, and the body may struggle to adjust to a new norm.
However, this does not mean that one should not try to reduce body weight if one has been living with obesity for years. But one should try to do it gradually, giving the body ample time to adjust.
Losing bodyweight is good, as body organs cannot consistently compensate for higher body weight. Higher levels of stress on various organs considerably increase the risk of organ malfunction. Thus, for example, enlarged heart in obese individuals is prone to heart attacks, heart failure, and other disorders.
So, how fast is too fast to lose weight?
Most researchers and medical associations agree that losing about 1-2 pounds a week is fine (half a kg to max. one kg a week). However, losing bodyweight greater than 2 pounds a week may be associated with certain health risks.
Additionally, it is worth noticing that lots would also depend on a person’s legacy and age. For example, for 28 years old, losing 2 pounds a week may be quite a good target. However, in the case of a person living with obesity for more than 20 years or an individual older than 45 years of age, losing even 2 pounds a week may pose a health threat.
Additionally, one should understand that weight loss is also temporary stress for the body. Thus, the presence or absence of comorbidities will also decide the safe limits of weight loss. For example, a relatively healthy individual may aim for 2 pounds a week. On the contrary, a person with established atherosclerosis may do it more gradually.
Too fast weight loss may cause both acute and chronic health issues. For example, shedding, let’s say, five kg in a month, may cause headaches, fatigue, dizziness, mood disorders, sleep disorders, hormonal issues, menstrual irregularities, muscle loss, hair loss, gastrointestinal problems in many.
Swift weight loss is rarely possible without stringent dietary measures. However, such a measure may also increase the risk of malnutrition. In some, sudden weight loss may cause exacerbations of certain chronic health disorders.
To conclude, maintaining a normal body weight is essential for healthy life and longevity. However, it is better done gradually.
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