Rapid weight loss may trigger risk for certain ailments

Although the health  benefits of shedding extra pounds are generally well-known to overweight and obese patients, the potential risks and side effects of rapid weight loss on the body are not, so it is wise to advise patients of these possibilities.

One such risk is the formation of gallstones.

Prevention strategies include limiting the rate of weight loss to an average of 3.3 pounds per week, said the director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore.

Adding of 10 grams of fat to a low-calorie diet has been shown to prevent gallstone formation, probably because of enhanced gallbladder emptying.

“Once the gallstones get big enough to get impacted, that’s not going to work.”

Another strategy is to add polyunsaturated fatty acids to the diet. But this approach has not been studied beyond 6 weeks of follow-up.

Ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to be effective in preventing gallstones, whereas the results of placebo/controlled trials of prostaglandin inhibition with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are mixed.

There is also emerging evidence that EGCG (ezetimibe and Epigalloctechin gallate) may play a role in the prevention of gallstones.

The following medical problems are related to rapid weight loss:

• Kidney stones. These tend to occur at greater frequency with low-carbohydrate, high protein diets.

“It is likely results from elevated uric acid in blood and urine, increased urinary calcium, and acid load/acidification of the urine.

Prevention strategies includes daily ingestion of potassium citrate, “because it alkalinizes the urine and solubilizes urinary calcium. There’s also some evidence that adding magnesium to potassium citrate may be even more effective.

• Gout. This can occur contemporary elevation in uric acid.

“People on very-low energy diets have a reported gout  incidence rate of 1%. Generally, though, the risk of gout ultimately decreases with weight loss and its accompanying lowering of serum uric acid.

Prevention strategies includes exercise, limitation of red meat, sugary beverage intake, and supplementation with coffee and vitamin C.

“Coffee and vitamin C seem to lower uric acid levels in general.

• Cardiac complications. Concerns about arrhythmias and deaths arose many years ago, when diets were sometimes very deficient in protein and micronutrients, but very rarely today.

• Electrolyte disorders. Advises being vigilant in monitoring levels if serum potassium and magnesium, specially in patients who are taking diuretic.

• Bone Density Loss. This remains an area of controversy, as it is unclear if the bone loss exceeds the loss that is expected from the weight loss itself.

• Eating disorders. “Though a cause and effect [relationship] has not been well established, clearly, repeated dieting can be associated with eating disorders.

“We should bear this in mind and not shy away from helping people with eating disorders related to dieting.