Is it unsafe to reduce calories while reducing weight?

Question

Hi doctor,

Recently I started losing weight. I cut my calories to 1200, and this worked well for a couple weeks. But now I am stalling and I am afraid to make my calories lower, I have heard this can be unsafe. What should I do? Some people say I should increase my calories again since my body might be in starvation mode, while others say I should further decrease it.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You are in the spiral that many dieters find themselves in after strict low calory diets. I will not recommend that you starve yourself as you are likely to enter starvation mode. This will also mean long-term consequences to your general health. Please exercise and stay healthy and aim for a healthy rather than a weak body. You should aim long-term weight loss rather than the short term as your weight will bounce back if you stick to this regime.