Complications of Rapid Weight Loss

We all know that being overweight can cause a myriad of health problems, but shedding those extra pounds too quickly can be just as dangerous. Whether you are crash dieting, taking a weight loss supplement like phentermine or considering gastric bypass or other surgery, you need to consider the risks and complications involved in rapid weight loss.

Definition of Rapid Weight Loss

Many people will lose as much as 5 to 10 pounds of water in the first week or two of a weight loss program, but then normal weight loss rates slow down. Rapid weight loss is commonly defined as consistently losing more than 2 to 3 pounds a week for more than two weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Systemic Effects

Your body needs a certain number of calories just to function. When you drastically reduce the number of calories you are taking in, your body doesn't just burn fat--it will burn lean muscle tissue as well as organ tissue from your heart, kidneys and liver. This can cause kidney failure, liver failure and even heart attack or stroke.

In an effort to provide itself with the nutrients it needs, your body will also take calcium from your bones, leaving them weak and prone to breaks or--in the long term--to osteoporosis.

Lesser Known Complications

One of the least-known complications of rapid weight loss is gallstones. When your body is metabolizing fat, it can cause your liver to absorb more cholesterol. Lack of proper nutrients can also keep your gallbladder from emptying bile, and gallstones can develop.

Dehydration can also be a problem, especially among people who are working out a lot, runners, and people who are taking phentermine, which suppresses thirst as well as appetite. The easiest way to stay on top of your water intake is to fill a 64 oz. container of water every morning and make sure you finish it before bed.

Cosmetic Effects

One of the most common complaints after very rapid weight loss is excess, loose skin. When you are "crash-dieting" you are not only losing fat faster then your skin can bounce back, you are probably robbing it of the very nutrients--fats--that it needs to maintain its elasticity.

In people approaching their 50s and beyond, this can especially affect your face, giving you a drawn look that is the opposite of the healthy, youthful glow you are working to attain.

Some dieters also experience hair loss because they are not getting the proper nutrients. Taking multivitamins is a good way to prevent this.

Psychological/Emotional Considerations

Many people carry extra weight as a defense mechanism; a way to keep other people at a distance, or to keep themselves from being perceived as sexually attractive. If this "protective" layer is stripped away too quickly, it can lead to increased anxiety, and reliance on other unhealthy ways of coping.

Other people become so addicted to successful weight loss that they become anorexic or bulimic.

Prevention/Solution

Keep close track of your weight loss. If it begins to exceed 3 lbs. a week, adjust your exercise routine or diet to slow the rate of loss, or ask your doctor for advice. Rapid weight loss can be a symptom of serious medical conditions.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that people losing weight quickly--especially those undergoing gastric bypass or lap-band surgery--find a support group to help them deal the emotional issues that can surround rapid weight loss.

Using moisturizers, staying out of the sun and making sure you get enough healthy fat in your diet can also go a long way toward keeping your skin supple, even during periods of prolonged weight loss.