Liquid Diets & Fasts

Are liquid diets a good way to lose weight?

They're probably not the best answer for most people, since slurping down a high-protein, low-fat, minimal calorie, blenderized concoction doesn't do much to teach you the new, healthier eating habits that you'll need to maintain your weight loss. These diets can also be expensive--an average of $2,000-3,000 US for a medically-supervised six month plan--especially in light of the fact that the "food" you're paying for isn't much more than dried egg whites (an excellent source of protein) and flavoring. Although nearly all liquid diet programs include classes to help participants ease back into eating regular food and to maintain their weight loss, the ratio of clients who actually maintain their new weight for long periods is low. On the other hand, some obese people have found that the fast, steady weight loss and ease of such diets (there's no need to plan menus) can help them lose significant amounts of weight for the first time in their lives. Liquid diets can succeed, but only if those who use them are determined to adopt healthy eating habits once the diet is over.

Is fasting a good way to lose weight?

No. Prolonged fasts can cause serious harm by depleting the levels of protein, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium in your body. Fasting can also cause toxic levels of ketone bodies (compounds produced when body fats are broken down) to accumulate in the bloodstream, despite the popular belief that fasting is a good way to "cleanse the system." On the other hand, short (1-2 day), occasional (no more than once every few weeks) fasts do not appear to be harmful to most healthy people. [The previous sentence is intended as recognition of the fact that many people fast for religious or spiritual reasons; it is not intended to encourage fasting, however briefly, for weight loss purposes.--kbc]