About Quick Weight Loss

Quick weight loss is a promise promoted by many diet products and eating plans in order to entice customers to try their products. Quick weight loss plans are often referred to as fad diets and may involve dramatically changing your eating habits in order to drop the weight quickly. Since organizations like the American Heart Association do not recommend these types of diets, it is best to avoid quick weight loss plans and rely on healthier eating habits instead.

Types

• There are thousands of quick weight loss plans that market themselves to consumers. Although they promise that users will drop the weight quickly, their claims are usually not substantiated by organizations like the FDA. Some examples of quick weight loss plans are the Cabbage Soup Diet, Chicken Soup Diet, Grapefruit Diet and Master Cleanse. Diet supplements that promise quick weight loss include Trim Spa, LipoSeduction, Stacker and Zantrex 3.

Features

• Most quick weight loss diets rely on the dieter eating a single food for a set period of time in order to drop the pounds rapidly. For example, the Cabbage Soup Diet involves consuming cabbage soup as your main meal for a seven day time period. To curb hunger, many of these diets will recommend that you consume a large amount of water. In some cases, certain fruits and vegetables are permitted during the diet.

Function

• Quick weight loss pills will often carry claims that the ingredients increase the number of calories burned, suppresses the appetite and blocks the body from absorbing fat. Most of these claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and a 2006 report from the Mayo Clinic printed in a December 2007 special report from Consumer Search showed that certain ingredients in diet supplements can lead to serious side effects, such as acute liver injury.

Considerations

• Quick weight loss plans usually deprive the dieter of essential vitamins and minerals. Doctors will recommend a more balanced diet in order to lose weight while still getting enough nutrients. A physician may not recommend a certain diet to lose weight, but instead encourage you to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy products and lean meats as well as start an exercise plan.

Warning

• Consult your doctor before you decide to try a quick weight loss diet or supplement. Many diet supplements can have adverse effects on a person, especially if he suffers from a pre-existing medical condition. Avoid rapid weight loss plans if you suffer from heart problems, thyroid issues or diabetes.