10 Reasons Crash Diets Can Make You Gain Weight10 Reasons Crash Diets Can Make You Gain Weight

It’s tempting to speed through the weight loss process with a crash diet for a week or two, but you should always be aware of all the risks and complications. Skipping meals or eating way less calories than you need can do more than damage your health, it can actually lead to the opposite of the intended effect.

Find out more about the reasons crash diets can make you gain weight, and decide if you’re better off making smaller changes that lead to sustainable weight loss, instead of trying fad diets that don’t work in the long run and can actually take you farther from your goal.

1. Your Metabolism Slows Down

Reducing your food intake drastically is a signal for your body to reduce the metabolic rate in order to store everything it can. When you’re on a crash diet, your body basically goes into starvation mode, and you’re a lot more likely to gain weight faster once it’s over. Slowing down your metabolism can’t be reversed easily, so you can expect to gain it all back or even add more.

2. You’re More Likely to Overeat Afterwards

One of the most important reasons crash diets can make you gain weight is the fact that you’ll also be tempted to eat more once the diet is over. The combination of more fat storage with binge eating is a recipe for disaster when it comes to your weight.