Short-term diets are very popular in today’s society, due to
their easy availability and instant gratification of shedding pounds in a short
amount of time. These short-term diets are successful in helping people lose
weight quickly, but they yield few long-term results.
These diet plans are typically based on drastically reducing
a person’s caloric intake, resulting in a calorie deficit. This deficit in
calorie intake is usually combined with a limited array of permitted foods.
Dieters often try to cut out an entire food group, like fats or carbohydrates,
rather than maintain a balanced diet.
Short term dieters generally only consume 1,000 calories or
fewer each day, achieving less than half of the recommended daily amount of
2,000 calories. This drastic reduction in calorie intake puts a lot of stress
on the body. The body enters survival mode and begins to slow the metabolism
and fat burning processes as a way to conserve energy. It is common for short-term
dieters to quickly return to their pre-diet weight after quitting the program,
because their body is rapidly trying to replace the lost calories.
Short-term diets are also harmful because they cause the
body to lose muscle mass. Rather than drawing energy from stores of fatty
adipose tissue, the body tries to make up for the lack of calories by pulling
energy from water and muscle mass. Thus, the initial weight loss experienced by
rapid dieters is usually due to a loss of muscle, not fat.
Additionally, the lack of food diversity in these diets
causes deterioration to occur in the hair, nails, and teeth. The immune system
is weakened due to lack of nourishment, making the body more susceptible to
illness. Short-term dieters often experience a breakdown in mental and
emotional health, which can lead to mental illnesses and eating disorders.
Quick diets promise immediate weight loss and a great
physical appearance, but the positive results rarely last. Those looking to
shed pounds and gain a healthier lifestyle should perform in-depth research
into whatever diet plan they choose, and make sure to maintain healthy exercise
and sleeping habits while dieting.