low calorie diet

[techteam]

Have heard that weight loss cannot be achieved on some very low calorie diets (500 cal per day). Something to do with the body switching to starvation mode. Does anyone know anything about this or a website that could give further info??

[woodpam]

Surely this can't be correct or anorexics and concentration camp victims wouldn't be thin. From what I've read starvation mode kicks in when almost any calorie restricted diet is recognised as a threat by the body and this causes a plateau effect in the weight loss. The body can't compensate for ever for the reduction in fuel and ordinary daily activity will result in the body using it's reserves.

[gilf]

Good answer Woodpam, I have always said there is no excuse for being over weight (before you all start slagging me off I'm 21 Stone and well over weight, I just dont try and get away from the fact I eat too much). I have often used the plight of the jews as the fact that if you do not eat or get too few calories your body will slowely burn all fat but more importantly also muscle. Your body does go into starvation mode and this is a problem. The 500 cal per day is the amount you should eat less than your daily recommned amount. So for example if you need 3000 cal a day eating less than 2500 will mean the body is likely to go into this slow down mode.