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The Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of fat known as a lipid. The "bad" cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and having too much of this type of fat can lead to high cholesterol and high risk of diseases linked to obesity and clogged arteries. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as the good cholesterol, because it helps the heart by carrying bad cholesterol to the liver, where it can be processed and eliminated. Rapid weight loss can affect cholesterol levels by decreasing triglycerides and increasing LDLs.

  1. Levels

    • According to Lipitor.com, an optimal level for LDL is 100 mg/dL, with 100 to 129 mg/dL near optimal. A high level is 190 mg/dL, and 130 mg/dL to 189 mg/dL is borderline high to high. An LDL of 190 mg/dL and above is very high. Total cholesterol levels should fall less than 200 mg/dL. Anything above that is borderline or high, and contributes to heart disease risk.

    Diet Changes

    • To decrease LDL, the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC), which includes the TLC diet, physical activity and weight management to lower cholesterol levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, oatmeal, bran, nuts, fish, omega 3 fatty acids, olive oil and plant sterols/stanols are all cholesterol-lowering heart-healthy foods. Only 10 percent of the diet should come from saturated fat to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

    Fasting

    • According to the Journal of Nutrition, losing weight through fasting seems to have the opposite effect and has been shown to increase LDL levels in obese subjects. A study performed on 10 obese adults over a period of a seven-day fast showed an increase in their lipid levels of approximately two points.

    Low-Carbohydrate

    • A Duke University study showed that low-carbohydrate diets, which are often used for rapid weight loss, contribute to reducing triglycerides. The low-carbohydrate diet was compared with low-calorie, low-fat and low-cholesterol diets to see which had more of an effect on cholesterol levels. The low-carbohydrate group experienced more rapid weight loss and significantly lower LDL levels and higher HDL levels.

    Low-Fat

    • The study also found that eating foods that are low in saturated fat can contribute to rapid weight loss and reduce LDL cholesterol levels significantly, because rapid weight loss decreases the amount of LDL fat in the blood. The study showed that a decrease in fat can lower overall cholesterol levels, although there was no significant increase in HDL levels.

    Conclusions

    • Rapid weight loss can contribute to a reduction in LDL levels by reducing triglycerides and lipids in the blood. Low-fat diets work to lower LDL levels and contribute to rapid weight loss, but are not effective at raising HDL levels. Low-carbohydrate dieters experience more rapid weight loss and see an increase in HDL levels, as well as a decrease in LDL cholesterol.

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