Pros and Cons of the Anorexic Diet

To this day, many people are surprised to discover that the anorexic diet exists. In fact, advocates have taken the diet a step further by publishing diet books about it. It is basically an eating plan that aims to achieve the same weight loss as anorexic patients do. Because there is a thin line between being anorexic and following the meal plan, it’s important to examine how this method actually works.

The Basics of the Anorexic Diet

For a long time, diet experts have advised people against depriving themselves of food in order to lose weight. The reason is because of a state called “starvation mode” where the body hangs on to existing fat as a means to survive. Although there is truth to this, it is also true that prolonged deprivation and consumption of fewer calories can counter starvation mode and lead to weight loss. This is the premise of the anorexic diet.

On the anorexic diet, dieters are encouraged to consume 500-800 calories a day. You can also take vitamin and fiber supplements to meet your daily recommended intake. Generally, you should strive to eat only five bites of food every meal, regardless of the type of food you choose. This diet’s promoters claim that reducing calories drastically will ultimately result in quick, significant weight loss. The duration of the meal plan is not specified.

The Pros of the Anorexic Diet

Given the effects of anorexia nervosa on the body, it is difficult to outline benefits. However, anorexic patients do experience a lot of weight loss, which is why many people are interested in this diet as a solution. Reducing calories is also one of the cornerstones of weight loss, and is an important principle of this meal plan.

The Cons of the Anorexic Diet

The anorexic diet does not provide nearly enough calories body processes need to keep your systems functioning normally. In other words, eating less than 1200 calories a day can disturb vital organs and prevent your body from performing its daily duties. Nutritional deficiencies can cause a wide range of illnesses. You are also likely to experience consistent fatigue, dizziness, fogginess, mental disorientation, bowel conditions, muscle weakness and many other symptoms.

This meal plan is also not sustainable. Dieters who attempt it usually revert back to their old eating patterns and gain more weight than they wanted off. Other followers of the diet claim to have lost weight after prolonged used, but developed the actual eating disorder in the process.

Seeking Professional Help

It is not uncommon for those on the anorexic diet to end up developing anorexia nervosa over time. Dieters skate a thin line with this meal plan because it is difficult to differentiate whether a person actually has anorexia nervosa or is just using the diet as a meal plan. If this is a weight loss option you’re seriously considering, speak to your doctor about it immediately.

Anorexia nervosa is a devastating condition and any diet that encourages its development should be approached with caution. Although it is based on calorie-reduction techniques that are effective, there are many other ways to change your diet that are healthier and safer.