The popularity of extreme weight loss diets is governed by the fact that more than half of America is either overweight or obese.
With about 55% of Americans being above the recommended BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30, obesity is a huge concern that the country faces today.
Therefore, it is no surprise that there are various extreme weight loss diets that have surfaced to try and address the issue in a quick manner.
An extreme weight loss diet is based on specific premises. Some Extreme Weight Loss diets promote the aspect of near starvation for a few weeks, whereas, many others promote pills and supplements to reduce the intake of food.
Almost all extreme weight loss diets are short term and are designed in such a manner that they cannot be sustained for a longer period of time.
The logic on which the extreme weight loss diets are based is as follows.
Starvation
There is no debate about the fact that you can lose weight only when the amount of calories that you burn in a day are higher than the calories that you intake.
Extreme weight loss diets, however, seem to only focus on one aspect of the matter and create diet plans that focus on minimal intake. In most cases, these diets are centered on one ingredient or food that is to be consumed with each meal to the extent of satiation.
Use Weight Loss Supplements
Thousands of diet supplements and pills claim to have appetite suppressant qualities or properties that increase the metabolic rate of the body. In most cases, these pills are not tested and proven for weight loss.
Consume Wonder Foods
Some of the extreme weight loss diets that you are likely to come across may claim wondrous results that one can achieve by consuming a few super foods. It is almost ironical that there is a new super food that is discovered each day.
Despite the kind of mockery that some people are making about the obesity situation in the country, there is no doubt that there are some extreme weight loss diets that work. However, these are not magical solutions that can be achieved overnight.
Popular Extreme Weight Loss Diets
Some of the most popular extreme weight loss Diets that are doing the rounds are the grapefruit diet (only grapefruit and coffee), baby food diet (baby portions at all meals), liquid diets, cabbage soup diet, aloe vera juice diet, green tea diet and many more.
Do Extreme Diets Work For The Long Term?
There are many extreme weight loss diets that have known to help in rapid weight loss; these are diets that promote low levels of calorie intake.
It is also recommended that if the follower wants to achieve faster weight loss, there needs to be a concerted effort to increase activity and include some exercise in the lifestyle.
Extreme weight loss diets are a necessity for those who are at risk of various other medical conditions due to obesity and therefore, rapid weight loss may be the only answer for them.
However, any such extreme weight loss diets should be followed under the strict guidance of a physician because rapid weight loss can result in gall bladder stones, dehydration, malnutrition and other ailments that accompany these problems.
Given the nature of extreme weight loss diets, they are unsustainable after a certain period of time and one cannot continue to consume cabbage soup or grapefruit juice for eternity and this is when the extreme weight loss diets lose their edge.
If an alternate long term diet plan is not created, the fat that you have lost is likely to come right back once you stop following the extreme weight loss diet.
Extreme weight loss diets are often used under the care of a physician, and may be perfectly healthy under these conditions, for the right people. In most cases, losing weight quickly with a doctor is still preferable to bariatric surgery for those who are morbidly obese.
However, the problem with extreme weight loss diets is that they are used by many people to lose ten “vanity” pounds. For these people, losing the weight slowly with a combination of reducing calories and extra exercise is the way to do it.
However, we get obsessed with getting into our “skinny jeans” by the weekend and try to find a way to lose ten pounds in a week. Extreme weight loss diets have their place. They can get out of control blood sugar down and they can help people avoid heart attacks. But, they require a doctor and they’re only for those people whose weight is putting their life and health at risk.