How harmful is losing weight too quickly?

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of many diseases such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, gallstones, hypertension, stroke… Dr. Phan Thi Thuy Dung, Weight Control Center Weight and Obesity Treatment, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said losing at least 5% of weight contributes to improving health problems related to obesity such as reducing HbA1C (average blood sugar over three months). ), control blood fat, blood pressure… Lose 7-11% of weight and also reduce sleep apnea, enhance respiratory function. Diseases related to fatty liver such as steatohepatitis and cirrhosis will improve if weight is reduced by 10-40%.

If you lose weight too quickly, or more than 1 kg per week, it can cause symptoms such as frequent fatigue, hunger, muscle cramps, constipation or diarrhea, dehydration… This condition also affects the body. affect mood and concentration, increasing the risk of psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, binge eating and food obsession.

“Losing weight is a long process, you need to follow a roadmap. If you lose weight suddenly in a short period of time, it is often difficult to maintain and can easily gain back quickly,” said Dr. Dung. Another consequence is loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness that affects daily physical activities, and subsequent problems with excess skin. Electrolyte balance disorders due to rapid weight loss promote the development of dangerous complications such as arrhythmia and seizures. Some cases of dehydration and inadequate hydration can lead to acute kidney injury.

Sudden weight loss changes metabolism and causes hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiency, which are risk factors for gallstones. People lacking thiamine (vitamin B1) may experience nystagmus. Folate (vitamin B9) deficiency is linked to cognitive impairment, dementia, and depression. People with zinc deficiency often heal wounds slowly, experience skin symptoms and bleed easily. The body does not have enough vitamin C, causing fatigue, muscle cramps, gingivitis and gum hypertrophy in some cases.

Dr. Dung recommends that overweight and obese people should choose a reputable treatment facility, follow the roadmap and scientific principles, and use approved medications for safety and high effectiveness.