Low Calorie Diets
Warning!
Under no circumstances should anyone follow a very low calorie
diet without medical supervision.
Introduction to very low calorie diets
Any diet with an intake of about 800 calories per day is a very
low calorie diet. Such a diet should only be followed for a
relatively short term (3-6 months) and only under medical
supervision. Medical supervision is essential for several reasons:
(a) To ensure only suitable candidates follow the diet; (b) To
ensure adequate nutrition; (c) To monitor progress.
Who can benefit from a very low calorie diet
People suffering from moderate to severe obesity who are at risk
from additional weight-related illness. This does not include
children, adolescents, pregnant or breast-feeding women, for whom
very low calorie diets are not appropriate unless part of a
specialized treatment program.
Does a low calorie diet work
As indicated, this diet is designed only for obese individuals
under medical supervision. Under these conditions, it typically
produces significant short-term weight loss amounting to 3 to 5
pounds per week, or about 44 pounds over 12 weeks. This can
improve obesity-related conditions, including diabetes, high blood
pressure, and high cholesterol. If combined with behavioral
therapy and exercise, such a diet may also retard weight regain.
Drawbacks
In the early stages of a very low calorie diet (up to 16 weeks),
dieters may experience a few minor side effects such as fatigue,
constipation, nausea, and diarrhea, but these side effects usually
improve or disappear entirely within a few weeks. However, there
are other more serious side effects with this sort of rapid weight
loss regimen, including the development of gallstones.
Verdict
Anyone suffering from moderate to severe obesity is at an
increased risk of developing serious disease. Therefore, any
medically supervised diet, even if very low in calories, is
capable of producing significant benefits for the individual
sufferer. However, statistics suggest that obesity does not
respond well to short term diet plans. It requires a long term
commitment from both patient and doctor.
Diet Review
No diet review can be more than a reasoned opinion on a particular
diet plan or weight loss method. We don't have a monopoly of diet
wisdom, so we welcome all comments on
our Diet Reviews.
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