Tag: Calorie deficit dangers

According to research, severely restricting calories can trigger a metabolic slowdown as your body enters a state of preservation. A huge calorie deficit, while it may seem like a fast track to weight loss, actually has a cascade of negative effects on your body's systems, from your metabolism to your mental health.

Your basal metabolic rate (BMR), the energy your body needs at complete rest to function, accounts for roughly 60% to 70% of your daily calorie burn. This baseline is the theoretical minimum calories needed to sustain life, but intentionally consuming only this amount is dangerous and unsustainable.

According to research, while a calorie deficit is necessary for weight loss, prolonged and excessive restriction can trigger metabolic adaptations to conserve energy. Your body interprets this as a threat, initiating survival mechanisms that can negatively affect nearly every physiological system.

According to a study on conscientious objectors during WWII, extreme calorie restriction led to severe metabolic, physical, and psychological distress. These historical findings and modern research make it clear that a severe or excessive calorie deficit is not a sustainable or healthy path to weight loss and can have dangerous consequences.

Studies involving endurance athletes have shown that significant caloric restriction can cause a substantial performance reduction, sometimes by nearly 8% in just a couple of weeks. So, what happens when you workout but eat little, and what are the surprising, and often serious, consequences for your body?

According to a study, 80% of female athletes have shown signs of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), a condition caused by inadequate calorie intake to support activity levels. Prolonged undereating can have profound and dangerous effects on both the mind and body, extending far beyond the initial perception of simple dieting.

According to the World Health Organization, unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity are leading global health risks. What happens if you eat too few calories and work out, however, can be just as, if not more, dangerous, triggering a survival response in your body with far-reaching negative consequences.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a safe caloric deficit is about 500 calories per day to lose roughly one pound per week. But what happens when you go further? Yes, you can be in too much of a caloric deficit, and the consequences can be serious for your physical and mental health.