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Vinesh Phogat disqualified: Is it right to lose weight quickly? Know its dangersIs extreme weight loss okay?,Potential Dangers of Extreme Weight Losselectrolyte imbalancenutritional deficienciesdehydrationhypokalemialiver failuretoxin overloadMalnutritionCan the use of diuretics cause water retention?
Vinesh Phogat disqualified: Is it right to lose weight quickly? Know its dangers
India’s Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics as she was found to be 150 grams overweight in the 50kg wrestling category. Vinesh, 29, spent the entire night skipping, jogging and cycling and did not take food and water to meet the weight limit. However, after she was disqualified, she fainted and also had to be hospitalised due to dehydration. Read on to know what experts say about the side effects of weight loss attempts.
The 29-year-old wrestler spent the entire night skipping, jogging and cycling and did not even consume food and water as per the weight limit
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified just before her final round appearance in the 50kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics 2024. According to officials, Phogat was 150 grams over the weight limit just before the competition, where she was set to get at least a silver medal.
According to news reports, the 29-year-old wrestler spent the entire night skipping, jogging and cycling, and even skipped food and water to meet the weight limit. However, after she was disqualified, she fainted and was also hospitalised due to dehydration.
So, Times Now spoke to experts to find out if taking drastic measures for weight loss is justified.
Is extreme weight loss okay?,
According to Dr Kedar Patil, bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic, aiming to lose weight in a short period of time can be dangerous. He said, “Excessive weight loss in a short period of time can have serious health consequences, including electrolyte imbalance and liver failure.”
Potential Dangers of Extreme Weight Loss
electrolyte imbalance
Electrolytes are minerals found in the body that have an electrical charge, found in blood, urine, tissues and other body fluids. Since electrolytes are important for many bodily functions, excessive weight loss can cause fluid imbalances, problems with nerve transmission, muscle function and acid-base balance.
nutritional deficiencies
“Rapid weight loss often involves restrictive diets, which may not provide adequate nutrients, including essential electrolytes,” Dr. Patil said.
dehydration
Like Phogat, extreme methods of weight loss, such as excessive exercise or the use of diuretic drugs, can lead to dehydration – which can further upset the electrolyte balance.
hypokalemia
“This leads to hypokalemia or deficiency of potassium, which causes muscle weakness, cramps, arrhythmia and respiratory problems,” Dr. Patil said.
liver failure
Since your liver is essential for purifying blood, making important proteins, processing nutrients, and metabolizing medications and other chemicals, rapid weight loss can lead to the accumulation of fat in liver cells, known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). “This condition can progress to inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH), fibrosis, and eventually liver failure,” says Dr. Patil.
toxin overload
During rapid weight loss, fat stores are broken down faster, causing toxins stored in fat to be released into the bloodstream. The liver has to work harder to detoxify these substances, which can lead to liver damage.
Malnutrition
Extreme dieting can result in malnutrition, which deprives the liver of the nutrients it needs to function properly, further aggravating liver damage.
Can the use of diuretics cause water retention?
According to Dr. Patil, the use of diuretics leads to water retention, also known as fluid retention or edema – in which excess fluids accumulate in the body’s tissues. This condition can have several adverse effects on health, especially with regard to the cardiovascular system and overall health.
“When your body holds excess water, the volume of blood in the circulatory system increases, and the extra volume causes your heart to work harder to pump the extra fluid throughout your body,” Dr. Patil said.
Excess fluid in the bloodstream increases pressure on the walls of blood vessels, causing high blood pressure that forces the heart to work harder to circulate blood. In the long run, chronic high blood pressure can damage arteries, leading to atherosclerosis that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Water retention also causes fluid to collect in your legs, leading to swelling, especially in the feet, ankles and legs, known as edema. Doctors say this causes discomfort, pain and a feeling of heaviness, as well as reduced mobility and making it difficult to walk or carry out daily activities.
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