You typically get between 800 and 1,500 calories per day when following a low-calorie diet. For some, an extremely low-calorie diet is an alternative for temporary weight loss.
Many ultra-low-calorie diets consist of professionally prepared formulae with 800 calories or less that take the place of every meal you typically eat. Some diets, like the well-known grapefruit diet, focus on consuming a lot of the same low-calorie food.
Using over-the-counter meal replacements to replace one or two meals a day is not the same as following a very low-calorie diet.
How Well Do Extremely Low-Calorie Diets Work?
A extremely low-calorie diet may help you lose 3 to 5 pounds every week, or an average of 44 pounds over 12 weeks, if your BMI is over 30 (which your doctor will classify as “obese”).Losing that amount of weight may improve weight-related medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. But in the long-run, very low-calorie diets aren’t more effective than more modest diets. Once you go off a diet, you need to change your lifestyle, committing to healthy eating and regular physical activity.
Are Diets With Extremely Low Calorie Content Safe?
Not everyone can follow a very low-calorie diet. Consult your physician to see whether this diet is suitable for you. Very low-calorie diets are generally safe to follow under appropriate medical supervision if your BMI is higher than thirty. Very low-calorie diets should only be used for those with weight-related medical conditions who are under medical supervision, such as those who are overweight but not obese (BMI of 27–30).
Very low-calorie-diets are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and are not appropriate for children or teens except in specialized treatment programs. They also may not be OK for people over age 50, either, depending on the potential need for medications for pre-existing conditions, as well as the possibility of side effects.
Side Effects of Very Low-Calorie Diets?
Individuals who follow an extremely low-calorie diet for four to sixteen weeks report experiencing mild side effects such diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and exhaustion. These symptoms seldom keep people from finishing the program; instead, they often go better in a few weeks.
The most frequent and dangerous adverse effect of extremely low-calorie diets is gallstones. Gallstones are more prevalent while losing weight quickly. The body begins to burn fat for energy when there is a calorie shortage. More cholesterol is then secreted by the liver, which can result in gallstones when coupled with bile.
What Other Negative Effects Can Extreme Low-Calorie Diets Cause?
You need a balance of foods from various dietary groups in order to be healthy. A very low-calorie diet makes it hard to feel full and absorb enough nutrients. Furthermore, if you consume the same meals every day, taking as few as 800 calories per day might not provide you with the energy you need for everyday activities and frequent physical activity.
Consult a dietitian or doctor to ensure that, even on a very low-calorie diet, you are getting the nutrients you require.