Why Very Low Calorie Diets Are So Dangerous

Frustratingly meal replacement programs seem to have become more and more popular in recent years.

Perhaps it’s because we live in a age of wanting everything handed to us on a silver platter. So, popping a pill and drinking our meals seems like an acceptable way of achieving a healthier lifestyle.

Or, maybe it’s because the media constantly publicise these products, therefore more and more people have become aware of their existence and know how to access them.

Regardless, they are now among the most popular commercial weight loss methods available.

This worries me a great deal!

Meal replacement plans come in a range of options, including powders, drinks, soups, bars and biscuits.

Some products can be used to replace all your meals, while others replace one or two meals per day, with the third meal being something healthy you cook yourself.

Obviously, swapping your regular meals with these products can cut down the amount of calories and fat you take in, and they do help some people lose weight.

But, there are risks, and meal replacements are definitely not suited to everyone.

Let’s be clear from the outset, a healthy well-balanced diet containing the right amount of calories, and regular physical activity is still the best way to lose weight long term.

But, for those who haven’t been able to achieve the results they need through diet and exercise alone, meal replacements can be a suitable option.

Not the easy option!
I think these plans are often perceived as being ‘easy,’ and with many people not wanting to think for themselves, simply shoving a shake down their neck seems like the perfect solution!

But, studies show that in the long run people generally cannot maintain this way of eating, nor can they keep the weight off years down the line.

So much for being the easy option!

Cautions and contraindications
Some of these programs provide as little as 400 to 800 calories per day, whereas a low calorie diet provides somewhere between 800 to 1200 calories per day.

Both could be potentially dangerously in my opinion. But, interestingly researchers have found after several months, people on a 400 calorie per day diet lose no more weight than those on the 800 calorie diet.

So, even if you wanted to keep your calorie intake to the least possible amount, there would actually be no point in eating less than 800 calories per day.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that after placing obese women on a very low calorie diet for two months, then shifting them to a low calorie diet for four months, only 5 percent had managed to maintain their weight after one year.

If you have followed a very low calorie diet in the past you may have experienced a considerable amount of weight loss in the first couple of weeks. This is due to increased fluid loss, not fat loss in the early stages. And, it appears that in the end you won’t lose any more weight after several months than someone who followed a low calorie diet for the same amount of time.

So, why put yourself through the pain and suffering of such a potentially dangerous diet?

Let’s look at some of the uncomfortable side effects of very low calorie diets:

• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue and weakness
• Cold intolerance
• Dry skin and nails
• Menstrual irregularities in women
• Hair loss
• Constipation/diarrhoea
• Irritability and confusion
• Inability to concentrate
• Muscle breakdown
• Problems with nerve and muscle function due to an imbalance in minerals and electrolytes
• Conditions such as osteoporosis, anaemia, gout, gallstones, clinical depression, heart problems, renal failure, and liver disease

And, it appears the lower your calorie intake, the greater the likelihood you will experience some of these side effects.

Isn’t that scary?

Before starting a meal replacement plan you should always get a medical assessment from your doctor and visit a registered dietitian for a suitable plan, which is tailored to your individual needs.

There are also certain groups of people who should not try meal replacement plans, these include:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Teenagers and children (unless supervised by their doctor)
• People with liver or kidney problems

Nutritionally inadequate
Very low calorie plans such as meal replacement shakes worry me for a number of reasons:

• It’s not real food so you don’t get the benefit of eating whole foods.
• Risk of nutritional deficiencies – many don’t contain all the nutrients you need which could lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies if left unchecked.
• They contain little or no fibre.
• They don’t teach you how to make healthy food choices.
• They can be expensive.

Given the information provided here wouldn’t it be better to simply replace your usual high calorie meals with some lower calorie ones? At least you’ll be benefiting from real food!

Here are a few healthier examples:

• 1 cup of soup
• 1 large bowl of high fibre cereal
• 1 small can of tuna with a green salad
• 3 pieces of fruit
• 1 salad sandwich on wholegrain bread
• 1 piece of lean meat, poultry or fish with fresh vegetables

If you struggle with motivation to change your diet don’t think a meal replacement plan is the answer to all your problems, it could in fact be more dangerous than you realise.

You need to change what’s going on in your head first, before you can begin to work on your diet. You may find my free ebook helpful, you can check it out here.

Isn’t your health worth more than one of these risky programs?

Best wishes!

Photo- Healthy Cocktail by Cronfeld