Myth #3 from NEJM article Feb 2013

4 points about rapid weight loss



POINT ONE:

"Hefty, rapid weight is linked with poorer long-term outcomes than gradual weight loss"

"The above myth arose in reaction to adverse effects of very low calorie less than 800 calorie per day.

"Within weight-loss trials, more rapid and

greater initial weight loss has been associated

with lower body weight at the end of long-term

follow-up.

9,10

A meta-analysis of randomized,

controlled trials that compared rapid weight loss

(achieved with very-low-energy diets) with slower

weight loss (achieved with low-energy diets —

i.e., 800 to 1200 kcal per day) at the end of short-

term follow-up

(≥1 year) showed that, despite the association of

very-low-energy diets with significantly greater

weight loss at the end of short-term follow-up

(16.1% of body weight lost, vs. 9.7% with low-

energy diets), there was no significant difference

between the very-low-energy diets and low-energy

diets with respect to weight loss at the end of

long-term follow-up.

10

Although it is not clear

why some obese persons have a greater initial

weight loss than others do, a recommendation

to lose weight more slowly might interfere with

the ultimate success of weight-loss efforts."

 
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051 link


 
POINT TWO:

Look Ahead data shows those who lost more wt maintained more wt loss link
from
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Jul;23(7):1353-6. doi: 10.1002/oby.21112.



POINT THREE:


The usual concern about losing weight rapidly is that a great deal of muscle is lost as well as fat as this article below shows.

"The healthiest way to lose one to two pounds per week is to eat about 1,500 calories per day if you're female, or about 2,000 calories per day if you're male.

This will help ensure adequate nutrition while still allowing you to easily burn more calories than you eat each day, which is how you lose weight.

Even with a sensible eating plan, however, you may lose muscle mass without working out."

The rest of the article is at Nina Kate's article 


POINT FOUR

 2013 High Protein diet during wt loss may decrease fat free mass loss link to article

"In summary, we determined that consuming dietary protein at levels exceeding the RDA may protect fat-free mass during short-term weight loss."