Tag: Dangers of dieting

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, those who diet moderately are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who do not diet at all. While many people turn to dieting for health or aesthetic reasons, the process is far from harmless, with potential physiological and psychological consequences that are often overlooked. Understanding these side effects is crucial for anyone considering a restrictive eating plan, as it highlights the importance of a balanced and sustainable approach to nutrition over short-term fixes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is more likely to be maintained long-term than rapid weight loss. This approach requires a moderate, rather than an extreme, calorie deficit to avoid significant health risks and metabolic damage.

While a daily 500-calorie *deficit* is a common weight loss strategy, the idea of eating only **500 calories a day** is a dangerously extreme form of calorie restriction that is not recommended for unsupervised dieting. Understanding the critical difference between these two approaches is key to pursuing healthy and sustainable weight loss goals.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the daily minimum recommended calorie intake for most adults is around 1,200 calories for women and 1,500 for men—making 500 calories a day an extremely and dangerously low target. This level of severe calorie restriction is far less food than what a two-year-old child typically needs to sustain healthy growth.