If you are overweight, then losing excess weight is a noble idea. But experts suggest that the way you lose weight also matters a lot when it comes to good health. People intent on losing weight quickly often take recourse to unhealthy methods of weight loss. Experts warn that though rapid weight loss measures may help you lose weight fast, it comes at a huge cost to your health. Unhealthy weight loss measures pose serious risks to your health and instead of making you look attractive, it can spoil your looks. Discussed below are the key disadvantages of rapid weight loss.

• Loose skin – When you achieve rapid weight loss, you may be able to lose extra inches but if you expect to look attractive, you may be over expecting. Studies show that when you lose weight rapidly, your skin does not get enough time to shrink down to the size of your newly trim body. While it may be easier for people in their 20s to get their skin in shape, those in their 40s will find it tough as the skin loses elasticity with age.

• Vitamin deficiencies – Strict and restricted diet plans may help you knock off several pounds from your body, but it will also do much damage to your internal systems. Consuming very few calories for a long period means that your nutrient and vitamin intake becomes negligible and as a result you suffer from vitamin deficiencies. Problems related to vitamin deficiencies include diarrhoea, weakness, impaired vision and acne.

• Hair loss – Diets aiming at rapid weight loss are dangerously low in calories. When you take a low calorie diet for a long time, your body gets an insufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients, leading to hair loss. This is because a lack of vitamins and nutrients weaken the hair follicles and cause your hair to become brittle. And, if you continue to take a vitamin deficient diet, the weakened hair follicles will eventually fall out making you suffer from hair loss.

• Muscle loss – To carry out normal bodily functions, you need calories. But when you take in insufficient calories to achieve rapid weight loss, your body tries to grab energy from other internal energy resources. As a result, your body starts feeding off lean muscle mass. This in turn leads to depletion in your lean muscle mass making you feel weak and lethargic. Gradually, you lack the energy to lose weight through healthy weight loss methods such as exercise.

• Insomnia – This is a commonly reported complaint from people who try to achieve rapid weight loss. Because of a lack of vitamin and nutrient intake their body’s hormonal and electrolyte balance gets disturbed which leads to insomnia. In addition, people on restricted diets often feel hungry. When trying to sleep on an empty stomach, a good night’s sleep is often difficult to achieve.

• Weight gain following dieting – This is one of the biggest problems related to rapid weight loss. Strict dieting slows down your metabolism. After completing your diet program, when your start eating normally your body burns fewer calories and the excess calories are stored as body fat. As a result, you gain more fat than what you lost through your rapid weight loss program.

Focus on healthy weight loss

To avoid the serious health consequences related to rapid weight loss, experts suggest the use of healthy weight loss measures such as a healthy diet and exercise. Experts also recommend the use of prescription slimming pills such as Xenical orlistat to support your weight loss efforts. However, experts warn people against going for strict diets and over-the-counter drugs that claim to offer rapid weight loss. If you are unable to decide, which weight loss method will work best for you, you can take the help of your doctor instead of risking your life with self-acclaimed rapid weight loss methods.