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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.
Resources:
Low
Cost Health Insurance! Health Savings Accounts!
diet
Information!
health
information straight from the source!
Causes
of Water Retention
Low-Calorie
Diets. If you have water retention you are very likely to be
overweight.
The
Only Weight Watcher Recipe
Quench
your thirst with water or low calorie diet drinks not alcohol. And
look out for low-calorie mixers. You can enjoy the party!
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