Liquid Fast Diets for Hollywood Stars

Liquid fast diets for Hollywood stars are all the rage in Hollywood, but how safe and practical are they? These diets are used by many Hollywood celebrities, such as Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Christy Turlington and Andie MacDowell to drop pounds fast for upcoming movies, photo shoots, and A-list events. Vanderbilt University estimated that approximately one-billion dollars this year on either over-the-counter liquid diet products or medically-sponsored liquid diets. Every company that creates and markets these products claim they are safe, and often employ celebrity spokespersons to say so, medical researchers continue to express their concern over the various health risks.

Purpose of a Liquid Diet

These liquid fast diets for Hollywood stars, and everyone else, are meant to promote weight loss. In more uncommon cases, doctors prescribe liquid diets to patients who are not able to digest solid foods. However, most people who go on a liquid diet do it for the sheer purpose of losing weight whether they need to lose weight or not.

How Do These Diets Work?

These diets work because they result in a drastic decrease in a person’s caloric intake. Most liquid diets consist of a person consuming only 400 to 800 calories per day. The person will drink high protein shakes and avoid all solid foods and meals. Most people experience a decrease in energy which results in rapid weight loss of approximately three to four pounds per week. Common liquid diet plans include Medifast, Optifast and HMR.

The person will begin by consuming only a liquid diet for three months. Then they will begin the refeeding stage where they will eat very sensible and healthy meals. The last stage is the maintenance stage where they will be on their own to eat healthily and sensibly. During the third stage they will also begin and exercise program, and in some cases they will attend a support group.

Effectiveness of Liquid Diets

Those who strictly follow the diet. However, 95 percent of people will eventually gain the weight back, says Vanderbilt University. Those who are on a liquid diet must learn how to eat right, they must exercise, they must take behavioral modification classes, and they must be dedicated to a complete lifestyle change if they hope to keep the weight off for good.

Harmful Consequences of Liquid Diets

Liquid diets may seem safe, there is a big potential for misuse which results in health risks. Since these diets result in rapid weight loss, a slowed metabolism and the overuse of lean muscle can occur which will make it quite difficult to maintain the weight loss once a person starts to consume solid foods again.

Those who lose too much lean body mass will have an increased risk of experiencing cardiac dysfunctions. They may experience irregular heartbeats due to an electrolyte imbalance, gallstones as a result of not being able to contract bile, and some people may die due to consuming too few calories and inadequate nutrition. Other consequences include muscle cramps, dizziness, constipation, anemia, and menstrual abnormalities.

Resources

Hemphill, E. (2008). Liquid Diets: Safe and Effective? Retrieved on February 23, 2010 from Vanderbilt University: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/LiquidDiets.htm

Image Credits

Protein Shake: Sandstein – Wikimedia Commons