Is a drastic calorie reduction harmful?

Asked by: Jason Kidd

Severely restricting your calories can decrease your metabolism and cause you to lose muscle mass. This makes it more difficult to maintain your weight loss in the long term.

How much calorie reduction is safe?

From there, a person can estimate how many calories they should eat to create a calorie deficit. A person should aim to lose no more than 1–2 lb per week to avoid potential health issues associated with not getting enough nutrients.

Can you lose weight by drastically cutting calories?

“For weight loss, diet seems to be more effective than physical activity,” he says. “You have to do huge amounts of physical activity to lose weight, but you can get a better energy deficit just by cutting down on calories.”

How much of a calorie deficit is too much?

How Much Of A Calorie Deficit Is Too Much? Cutting anything more than 1000 calories a day is considered too much. However, the least amount of calories that should be consumed in a day are (23): Women – 1000 to 1200 cals.

Why am I not losing weight eating 1500 calories a day?

If you’re a man, woman weighing over 164 pounds or a female who regularly exercises and you aren’t losing weight eating 1,200 to 1,500 calories daily, it may be time to see a doctor. Hormone imbalances – such as underactive thyroid – can decrease your body’s metabolism and inhibit or prevent weight loss from occurring.

Is a 1200 calorie deficit too much?

A 1,200-calorie diet is much too low for most people and can result in negative side effects like dizziness, extreme hunger, nausea, micronutrient deficiencies, fatigue, headaches, and gallstones ( 23 ). Furthermore, a 1,200-calorie diet can set you up for failure if long-term weight loss is your goal.

Why am I not losing weight when I only eat 1000 calories a day?

Eating too little — say, 1,000 calories a day — can prevent you from losing weight, too. “When you don’t eat enough, your body is starving and it’s not going to lose any extra weight” because it needs those energy stores to keep you alive, Fakhoury said.

Is a 1300 calorie diet healthy?

For many people, it is safe to eat 1300 calories a day as long as you balance your meals well, and ensure each meal has the required nutrients. In general, people need a minimum of 1200 calories a day, as advised by Everyday health (4).