A very low calorie diet can lead to many unpleasant and harmful side effects, from constipation to the development of unhealthy relationships with food (
In addition, significantly reducing calorie intake can lead to rapid weight loss and can lead to hair loss.
The Optavia diet is a diet that limits calorie intake and induces weight loss. Some customers experience side effects while following Optavia, such as hair loss.
In this article, I’ll explain what an optavia diet is and why it can cause hair loss in some people.
Optavia is a popular diet that people follow to lose weight. The 12-week optimal weight 5 & 1 plan reduces calorie intake to only 800-1,200 calories per day to promote rapid weight loss (2).
When a dieter reaches a “healthy weight”, a daily intake of less than 1,550 calories for 6 weeks will lead to a higher calorie transition stage (2).
This turned out to be much less calories than the average American adult consumes daily (
Depending on your calorie intake, Optavia’s weight loss stage can be considered a very low-calorie to low-calorie diet.
A very low calorie diet (VLCD) is a diet that provides 600 to 900 calories per day, while a low calorie diet (LCD) provides 1,000 to 1,500 calories per day ((LCD).
Significant weight loss can result in significant weight loss, as the body needs more calories to maintain weight, such as when eating a very low to low calorie diet like Optavia. A decrease may occur.
However, in addition to weight loss, VLCDs and low-calorie diets can cause harmful side effects such as hormonal disturbances and hair loss in the body.
Diets that significantly reduce calories, such as the Optavia diet, can lead to sudden and rapid weight loss and can lead to hair loss.
Rapid weight loss and hair loss
Rapid weight loss that occurs in a short period of time, such as when eating a very low to low calorie diet like Optavia, is associated with a condition called acute telogen effluvium (TE).
TE is a disorder that causes excessive hair loss on the scalp. This is one of the most common causes of alopecia and is the medical term for alopecia (
Rapid weight loss is a well-known trigger for TE. This is because the cells that make up part of the hair follicles that make up the hair depend on a stable flow of energy. This makes the hair follicles very sensitive to a lack of calories and nutrients (
In acute TE, trigger events such as rapid weight loss cause the hair to suddenly transition from the anagen phase to the resting phase. When these same hairs re-enter their growth stage, they fall off.
Hair loss associated with acute TE usually occurs about 3 months after rapid weight loss, so people on the Optavia diet may not experience hair loss until they move to the “maintenance” phase of the diet. I have(
Acute TE associated with sudden weight loss usually lasts less than 6 months. Hair loss that lasts more than 6 months is known as chronic TE (
overview
Significant calorie restriction can lead to sudden and rapid weight loss, such as when eating a very low to low calorie diet like Optavia. This can cause hair loss.
Rapid and rapid weight loss can cause hair loss, regardless of the cause of the weight loss.
For example, in addition to VLCD, weight loss surgery is also associated with hair loss due to sudden extreme levels of weight loss associated with the procedure (
If you experience hair loss while following Optavia, it may be due to significant weight loss.
Losing hair can be painful, but the TE associated with rapid weight loss is often temporary.
In fact, studies show that 95% of people who experience acute TE are in remission. Most people will see hair regrowth within 6 months (
If you experience hair loss that lasts more than 6 months, this is considered chronic TE. Chronic TE can be caused by several different factors.
In either case, it is advisable to consult a doctor if you are experiencing hair loss.
There are several possible causes for hair loss, some of which are serious and can be unrelated to weight loss.
Hair loss associated with weight loss is usually temporary, but it’s important to know that you can avoid this potential harmful side effect by completely avoiding VLCDs, crash diets, and overly restricted diets. is.
By following a nutritious diet and aggressive exercise routines, losing weight slowly and in a more sustainable way reduces the risks associated with very low-calorie and low-calorie diets such as hair loss. May be useful for.
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Hair loss can be caused by factors unrelated to weight loss, so it is advisable to see a doctor if you are experiencing hair loss. Hair loss associated with rapid weight loss is usually temporary and should begin to regenerate within 6 months.
In addition to rapid weight loss, there are several potential causes of hair loss, including:
- Malnutrition. Lack of protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids can all lead to hair loss. This is why it is so important to follow a balanced diet of nutritious foods (“
11 11 ). - stress. Emotional and psychological stress can cause TE. For example, all stress associated with surgical trauma, bleeding, childbirth, or high fever is associated with TE (
6 ). - Health status. Certain health conditions, including autoimmune diseases and thyroid conditions, can cause hair loss. Doctors can rule out these potential causes by performing specific tests (
6 ). - medicine. Certain medications such as oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, beta blockers, antidepressants, and retinoids can cause hair loss in some people (
6 ). - Androgenetic alopecia. This common form of hair loss is caused by genetic and environmental factors and can occur in both men and women (12).
Other causes of hair loss are:
- Trichotillomania: State of pulling out hair
- Tension alopecia: Repeated tension in your hair
13 ).
As you can see, hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, so other diets like VLCD and Optavia may not be the main cause of scalp thinning. Still, significant weight loss from a crash diet can cause temporary hair loss that you may want to avoid.
overview
There are many potential causes of hair loss, including micronutrient deficiency, drug use, medical conditions such as thyroid disease, and genetics.
The Optavia diet can cause rapid weight loss and can cause acute TE. Acute TE is a type of hair loss that usually lasts for several months.
Hair loss associated with rapid weight loss is often temporary, but you can avoid worrying about hair loss by losing weight slowly and in a more sustainable way.
If you suspect that your hair loss is due to your Optavia diet, it is important to consult your healthcare provider to rule out other potential causes of hair loss. Some causes of hair loss are more serious than others and may require medical attention.
To reduce the risk of hair loss and other side effects associated with a restricted or low-calorie diet, focus on:
- After a diet high in nutritious whole foods rich in protein and fiber
- Reduce intake of super-processed foods and sugar drinks
- Do more exercise every day
- Get enough sleep
- Reduce stress as much as possible
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