The desire to achieve rapid weight loss is understandable, especially with social media advertising so-called "miracle diets" that guarantee significant weight loss in a few days or weeks. However, crash diets and other intense weight-loss programs might put the body under unnecessary stress, affecting organs such as the kidneys. While losing weight is known to help improve metabolic health, the way weight loss occurs matters. A sensible approach to weight loss aims at healthy nutrition, sensible caloric restriction, and implementing regular physical activity in one’s life instead of strict diets.
Dehydration is one of the immediate concerns
Most crash diets speak of drastic reduction not just in food intake, but also in fluid intake. Some plans promote sweating excessively, abstaining for a long time from eating, or employing drugs and diuretics to make the process of weight change quicker. The majority of weight loss achieved during this time will probably consist of fluid loss rather than fat loss. Dehydration leads to a decreased amount of blood that gets to the kidneys and, in adverse situations, may cause acute kidney failure.
Extreme diets can also increase kidney stone risk
Some restrictive diets can change the composition of urine. For instance, a strict low-carb diet or a ketogenic nutrition regime might trigger changes in the chemical composition of the urine, and in certain cases, it might play a role in the stone-forming processes in the kidneys. Getting slimmer too fast and lengthening fasting intervals may also result in a jump in the levels of uric acid in the blood of certain individuals.
More protein is not always better
The high-protein diet is often marketed as a method of retaining muscle when losing weight. It is true that protein is an essential nutrient, but excessive protein consumption may lead to an increased burden of processing nitrogenous waste. It is important to note that following a high-protein diet does not automatically translate to kidney disease in a healthy individual. On the other hand, patients suffering from kidney disease or impaired kidney function may have to seek tailored recommendations regarding protein intake instead of blindly following the high-protein diet.
Supplements can add another layer of risk
Weight-loss programs may consist of several supplements, herbal remedies, powders, or detox formulas. While a “natural” label may seem credible, it does not automatically mean that a product is harmless to the kidneys. Some supplements may have substances that can interact with medications or disturb kidney function. People should be very careful with medicines that claim quick weight loss, detoxification, and significant results without medical attention.
What does healthy weight loss look like?
When it comes to a weight-loss plan that takes the kidneys into account, the main points would be proper hydration, balanced nutrition, and a moderate calorie deficit combined with a sufficient workout program. The diet should be adequate in terms of protein, fibre, and vitamins while keeping the risk of extremes to a minimum. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, recurrent kidney stones and other medical conditions are advised to seek expert help in following major dietary changes.
The numbers on the scale tell only part of the story. Losing a few kilos fast may seem to be a success, but if you experience issues due to dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and strict dieting, you may end up with bigger health trouble than the apparent success. The aim should be to burn fat rather than lose weight for the sake of it.
The author is the director and HOD, Nephrology and Kidney Transplant, Aakash Healthcare Multi-Speciality Hospital, Dwarka.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
