The previous Childhood Obesity News post, like this one, endorsed the idea of never becoming overweight or obese, because of the challenges faced by people who do that, and then go on to lose a huge proportion of their body weight. One way to lose a lot is through extreme clinical fasting. We talked about the HBD, or hypoenergetic balanced diet, and the VLED, or very low-energy diet, but this is a whole different level of intervention.
An old case report which details the “Features of a successful therapeutic fast of 382 days’ duration” says that “starvation therapy can be completely successful.” The subject was a 27-year-old man whose health was sustained during the fast with multivitamin supplements.
That is an extreme “calories in” modification if there ever was one. The report says:
[…] he adapted so well and was eager to reach his ‘ideal’ weight, his fast was continued into what is presently the longest recorded fast (Guinness Book of Records, 1971).
The patient started at 456 lbs and ended up losing around 275 lbs total. What is more, he managed to stay close to his new weight for at least five years after the prolonged fast.
Most big “losers” have one thing in common. Their lives become focused on doing whatever is necessary to maintain the lower weight. Perhaps inevitably, the people who experience the worst difficulties after a major weight loss are those who accomplish it with the help of bariatric surgery. Unfortunately, the surgical option is no longer regarded as an extraordinary measure that should be saved for the last resort. Surgery, especially on younger people, becomes more common every day.
Credit where it’s due
Undoubtedly, the rapid weight loss that occurs after these procedures can make a dramatic difference. When a person loses 30% to 70% of excess weight inside a year, co-morbidities like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and sleep apnea all improve. Annoyances like heartburn decrease. Cholesterol tests come out with better numbers. Maybe without all those extra pounds to carry around the person’s knee joints don’t hurt as much, or at all.
But there are other physical changes — unwelcome ones. In addition to loose skin, which any weight-loser might encounter, people who have their innards truncated run into other problems. They will still go ahead and eat more than their new little stomachs can deal with, which is painful and makes them throw up. “Dumping” is the insider word for this, and it’s pretty much like bulimia.
Along with vomiting, both voluntary and involuntary, post-op patients suffer from newly developed food intolerances, faintness, constipation, thinning hair, flatulence, and other conditions that interfere with the enhanced social life they hoped to achieve through weight loss. On the other hand, studies show that these patients do make more friends than previously, and date more, and self-report a greater enjoyment of life than was experienced by their obese selves.
Where is the credit due?
On whether to interpret this as a side effect of the more slender figure, or as a side effect of generally improved health, opinion is divided. Probably it is both, in varying proportions for different people. This aligns with the concept that there are few one-size-fits-all answers. As product disclaimers proclaim, “Results may vary.” Some answers that seem universally self-evident are not. For instance, health professionals and public service announcements may exhort people all day long to drink plenty of water. But in a lot of places, potable water isn’t available, period. That advice doesn’t work for everyone.
This is also how movements fall apart, when energy is diverted into too many channels. One caring volunteer for the cause might say, “I now see that clean water for everyone must be the number one goal. I’m outta here.” The former comrade-in-arms might say, “But wait, we need you to teach the middle-schoolers’ step-aerobics class.” Both these well-intentioned people are right, but they may end up not being friends any longer.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Features of a successful therapeutic fast of 382 days’ duration,” PMJ.BMK.com, March 1973
Photo credit: Tawng/123RF Stock Photo
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One Response
You are right, when you start something there are more challenges and when you face the challenges then you can easily achieve your goal.
To lose weight is also a big challenge in the present scenario because people live far from healthy foods, and they like fast food in daily life that’s why sustainable eating discipline (like what should eat, and when should eat) is very important for weight loss.