The Price of Hasty Weight Loss Is Too Heavy: A Close Analysis 

For at least the past 100 years or so, microscopic attention to weight loss has become the norm. Lean bodies with flat bellies and toned arms and legs became the standard of beauty. Media houses started portraying slim models that set the bar for the world around them. 

Just as Hollywood celebrities jumped onto the bandwagon, their fans naturally followed. From a young age, girls were under pressure to adhere to a certain size. In the US, we like to refer to the size 6 for the ideal-looking woman. 

Men also could not stay immune for long. In totality, there sprung up a generation that wanted to slim down but struggled to do so. Studies found that 14.7 million individuals across the US still live with obesity. These numbers are merely adolescents and children. 

As they perceive the pressures to maintain a certain weight, many resort to extreme measures that promise quick results. In this article, we will discuss what’s being sacrificed for the sake of fast weight loss. Keep reading to know if the price is worth the outcome. Let’s dive in and find out more!

A World Where It’s Easy to Gain Weight 

If we look at the world around us closely and compare it to a colorized (or otherwise) clip from the bygone eras, a striking contrast is noticeable. People back then seldom appeared to be struggling with obesity. Cases cannot be ruled out altogether but they were significantly low. 

Despite the body positivity movement and the fact that shaming someone for their weight is wrong, we cannot ignore the ‘elephant in the room.’ Obesity comes with several challenges and health complications. Hence, it must be addressed, especially when a country’s population is collectively suffering from it. 

The irony of it all is how modern society is almost designed to keep people sick and overweight. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) considers obesity to be a disease of the New Age. It is an apt title since the current diet and lifestyle promote this disease. 

As per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the foods that prevent disease also help in natural weight loss and maintenance. Diet quality and quantity matter and the Standard American Diet is literally as its acronym states – SAD. 

Moreover, the fact that most Americans spend an average of 9.5 hours a day sitting doesn’t help either. Studies have found that such a lack of movement increases the risk of death by 38%, let alone obesity and related diseases. 

Ultimately, the extreme pressure exerted on looking fit and beautiful further harms. We are currently witnessing an entire generation that is depressed because they have body dysmorphia, cannot age gracefully, and would rather die than look ugly. 

Naturally, eating disorders (including binging on food) are on the rise. In brief, ours is a world that subtly makes it easy to gain weight and keeps people trapped in a vicious cycle. It’s almost like a hamster on the wheel, right? 

Extreme Measures, Quick Results, and Grave Complications 

In numerous cases, people resort to weight loss measures that promise swift results. What they fail to realize at the time is that the price may be higher than they’d originally planned to pay. This is precisely why such measures are seldom seen as extreme. 

Going Under the Knife 

Some individuals, mainly those who are morbidly obese, may consider going under the knife for weight loss or bariatric surgery. The purpose is to alter the person’s digestive system in a manner that they consume less food or beverages in a single sitting. 

On the surface, it looks like an innocent improvement of one’s fat metabolism. What could possibly go wrong with that, right? The reality can be strikingly different and somber. A recent case was that of a 53-year-old woman who underwent gastric bypass surgery to shed weight. The surgery was unsuccessful in that the woman died in Cork days later due to septic shock. 

A similar tragedy occurred with a young mother of four, Shannon Meenan Browse, who underwent a gastric sleeve operation in Turkey. Her father recalls how Shannon got sick immediately after, unable to keep food down. 

The situation became so dire that her teeth began rotting due to incessant vomiting. After an arduous struggle, she was pronounced dead due to malnutrition. Such sad stories should act as food for thought to those thinking of hasty weight loss measures. 

Drugs Like Ozempic 

Another quick method to shed off unwanted pounds is a prescription drug by the name of Ozempic. Also known as semaglutide, Ozempic received its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2017. 

What’s interesting is that the approval was granted for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. It was sometime later that some physicians began recommending the drug even for weight loss due to its natural effects. It is believed that Ozempic can help lose around 15% of existing body weight in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. 

Hollywood celebrities and influencers across social media began hyping up this prescription drug for weight loss. Naturally, the public followed suit only to be struck with disappointing outcomes. Did Ozempic help with weight loss? Yes, but that came at a heavy price. 

According to TorHoerman Law, people began reporting major side effects like stomach paralysis, gallbladder disease, and cyclic vomiting syndrome. A major commonality among most cases was the off-label use of the drug. Even celebrities opened up about their complications and how they remained unaware at the time of the treatment. 

Victims of the drug have filed an Ozempic lawsuit against the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. It has been alleged that the company was aware of the risks involved but chose not to disclose them to the public or healthcare providers in some cases. Again, we see a parallel with the previous extreme measure. The risks far outweigh the benefits, hence proceeding with caution is imperative. 

Practicing Caution and Sustainable Habits 

In contrast to unsustainable and harmful methods of weight loss, there are safer and long-lasting options available. There is always a price to pay and with these practices, it may take longer to shed off the same number of pounds. 

Healthy Diet 

The first sustainable practice in losing weight safely is to eat balanced healthful meals. Caution must be practiced to not go overboard with one’s diet. It is more of a lifestyle change that includes self-discipline and embracing all types of food. 

The human body needs all kinds of nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, mono-saturated fats, vitamins and minerals, etc. Harvard Health states that a healthy diet comprises natural minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat products, and more. 

A good rule of thumb would be to eat more of those items that are found closest to their natural form. In the case of packaged food products, look at the ingredients list. If you’re unable to pronounce any of the ingredients, it probably should not have been there. Making good health a focus will work much better than striving to simply lose weight. 

Regular Exercise 

This is another well-known method to keep weight under check but it often gets pushed under the rug. It may predominantly happen because the initial days can be extremely challenging. If one is not used to exercising, especially in the case of morbid obesity, it can feel discouraging to keep going. 

However, it gets better with time. Regular exercise along with a healthy diet is the best couplet to reduce and maintain weight. Healthline suggests performing some type of aerobic exercise thrice a week for at least 20 minutes for weight loss. 

Even if you’re overweight, do not fast-track this recommended routine in hopes of shedding weight quickly. It may backfire and endanger your health. It is best to maintain a fixed routine, both in terms of exercise and diet. The little consistent efforts made every day can go a long way in producing the desired results. 

As we just saw, haste only makes waste even when it comes to weight loss. It may be tempting to try out the latest fad that promises belly fat reduction in 30 days or slimming down two sizes in 60. Such get-lean-quick schemes often have hidden costs that nobody easily talks about. No matter how obese an individual is, disciplined efforts over time create ripple effects that will produce concrete results in due course.