Scientists warn against harsh diets… Contrary results
Extreme diets can be dangerous to human health; some lead to nutritional deficiencies, muscle mass loss, and other health issues.
Scientists confirm that weight loss requires consuming fewer calories than the body needs daily.
Despite this principle being fundamental for achieving weight loss, researchers indicate that strict dietary regimens may be harmful and pose significant challenges to the weight loss process.
Studies suggest that harsh diets, which involve a substantial reduction in calorie intake to between 800 and 1200 calories daily for a specified period, have become popular recently due to media influence and social media platforms.
Supporters of these diets claim that they can achieve rapid weight loss, explaining their popularity. However, research indicates that this approach may not be effective for everyone.
In a study involving 278 obese individuals, the results showed that following an intensive diet for 12 weeks, with 810 calories daily, led to greater weight loss after 12 months compared to individuals who only reduced their calorie intake.
Another study suggests that low-calorie diets can be effective for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
At the same time, there appear to be long-term effects of these diets on the metabolic process.
Metabolism represents the set of chemical reactions in the body that contribute to converting food into energy and storing excess in the form of fat.
Scientists point out that harsh diets negatively affect this process, reducing the available energy for the body and leading to a decrease in metabolic rate.
Research indicates that harsh diets may also lead to a decrease in levels of the T3 hormone produced by the thyroid gland, which plays a crucial role in regulating the basal metabolic rate.
In the long term, these diets can cause changes in the hormonal balance of the body, increasing stress hormones like cortisol, which may result in storing more fat in the body.
In general, it is recommended to follow a gradual and sustainable dietary plan for weight loss, gradually reducing calorie intake and incorporating physical exercises.
Researchers suggest that this approach achieves greater effectiveness in the long term and reduces side effects on metabolism.
