Very low calorie diets could result in a variety of disagreeable and even dangerous uncomfortable side effects — from constipation to growing an unhealthy relationship with meals (
What’s extra, considerably decreasing calorie consumption could result in fast weight reduction, which may set off hair loss.
The Optavia weight loss plan is a weight loss plan that restricts your calorie consumption to induce weight reduction. Some clients have skilled uncomfortable side effects when following Optavia, together with hair loss.
This text explains what the Optavia weight loss plan is and why it might trigger hair loss in some individuals.
Optavia is a well-liked weight loss plan that folks comply with to reduce weight. The 12-week Optimum Weight 5&1 Plan slashes calorie consumption to simply 800–1,200 energy per day with a purpose to promote quick weight reduction (2).
As soon as the dieter reaches their “wholesome weight,” they then transition to the next calorie transition part with an consumption of not more than 1,550 energy per day for six weeks (2).
This seems to be far fewer energy than the common American grownup takes in each day (
Relying on the calorie consumption, the burden loss part of Optavia might be thought of a really low to low calorie weight loss plan.
Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) are diets that present between 600–900 energy per day, whereas low calorie diets (LCDs) present 1,000–1,500 energy per day (
Once you scale back your calorie consumption drastically, reminiscent of whenever you’re following a really low to low-calorie weight loss plan like Optavia, you might expertise important weight reduction as a result of your physique wants many extra energy with a purpose to preserve your physique weight.
Nevertheless, along with weight reduction, VLCDs and low calorie diets could result in antagonistic uncomfortable side effects, together with hormone disruptions in your physique and hair loss.
Diets that considerably reduce energy, just like the Optavia weight loss plan, result in sudden and fast weight reduction, which may set off hair loss.
Speedy weight reduction and hair loss
Speedy weight reduction that happens over a short while interval, reminiscent of whenever you’re following a really low to low calorie weight loss plan like Optavia, has been linked to a situation known as acute telogen effluvium (TE).
TE is a dysfunction that causes extreme shedding of hair in your scalp. It’s one of the crucial frequent causes of alopecia, the medical time period for hair loss (
Speedy weight reduction is a well known trigger of TE. It’s because the cells that make up the a part of the hair follicle that produces hair rely on a gentle move of vitality. This makes your hair follicles extraordinarily delicate to calorie or nutrient deficiencies (
In acute TE, a triggering occasion like fast weight reduction causes the hair to abruptly shift from a rising part to a resting part. When these similar hairs reenter their rising part, they shed.
Hair loss associated to acute TE often happens round 3 months after fast weight reduction, so individuals following the Optavia weight loss plan could not expertise hair loss till after they’ve shifted into the “upkeep” part of the weight loss plan (
Acute TE associated to sudden weight reduction sometimes lasts lower than 6 months. Hair loss that lasts longer than 6 months is called continual TE (
Abstract
Important calorie restriction, reminiscent of when following a really low to low-calorie weight loss plan like Optavia, could result in sudden, fast weight reduction. This may set off hair loss.
A fast and sudden drop in weight could cause hair loss, irrespective of the reason for the burden loss.
For instance, along with VLCDs, bariatric surgical procedure has additionally been linked to hair loss as a result of sudden and excessive stage of weight reduction related to the process (
When you expertise hair loss when following Optavia, it might be as a consequence of your important weight reduction.
Dropping your hair might be distressing, however TE related to fast weight reduction is usually non permanent.
Actually, research present that 95% of people that expertise acute TE endure remission. Most individuals will see hair regrowth inside 6 months (
When you expertise hair loss that lasts longer than 6 months, that is thought of continual TE. Continual TE could also be brought on by a number of various factors.
In both case, it’s a good suggestion to seek the advice of your physician in the event you’re experiencing hair loss.
Hair loss can have a variety of causes, a few of which can be severe and unrelated to weight reduction.
It’s vital to know that though hair loss related to weight reduction is usually non permanent, you might keep away from this potential antagonistic facet impact by avoiding VLCDs, crash diets, and overly restrictive diets altogether.
Reducing weight in a slower, extra sustainable method by following a nutritious weight loss plan and lively train routine could assist scale back the dangers related to very low and low calorie diets like hair loss.
Abstract
It’s a good suggestion to go to your physician in the event you’re experiencing hair loss as hair loss might be brought on by components unrelated to weight reduction. The hair loss related to fast weight reduction is usually non permanent and hair ought to begin to regrow inside 6 months.
Along with fast weight reduction, there are a variety of different potential causes for hair loss, together with:
- Nutrient deficiencies. Protein, vitamin, mineral, and fatty acid deficiencies can all result in hair loss. This is the reason following a balanced weight loss plan that consists of nutrient-dense meals is so vital (
11 ). - Stress. Emotional and psychological stress can set off TE. For instance, stress associated to surgical trauma, blood loss, childbirth, or excessive fever have all been related to TE (
6 ). - Well being circumstances. Sure well being circumstances, together with autoimmune diseases and thyroid circumstances, could cause hair loss. A physician can rule out these potential causes by performing sure assessments (
6 ). - Drugs. Sure drugs together with contraception drugs, blood thinners, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and retinoids could set off hair loss in some individuals (
6 ). - Androgenetic alopecia. This frequent type of hair loss is brought on by genetic and environmental components and may happen in each women and men (12).
Different causes of hair loss embrace:
- Trichotillomania: a situation that makes individuals pull out their hair
- Pressure alopecia: repetitive rigidity in your hair (
13 ).
As you possibly can see, hair loss might be brought on by many various components, so VLCDs and different diets like Optavia is probably not the principle culprits for a thinning scalp. Nonetheless, important weight-loss from crash diets could trigger non permanent hair loss that you could be want to keep away from.
Abstract
There are numerous potential causes of hair loss, together with micronutrient deficiencies, treatment use, medical circumstances like thyroid illness, genetics, and extra.
The Optavia weight loss plan could trigger fast weight reduction, which can set off acute TE. Acute TE is a sort of hair loss that sometimes lasts just a few months.
Although the hair loss related to fast weight reduction is usually non permanent, you possibly can keep away from worrying about hair loss by reducing weight in a slower, extra sustainable method.
When you assume the Optavia weight loss plan is inflicting you to lose your hair, it’s vital to go to your healthcare supplier to rule out different potential causes of hair loss. Some causes of hair loss show extra severe than others, doubtlessly requiring medical consideration.
To cut back the chance of hair loss and different uncomfortable side effects associated to restrictive or low calorie diets, concentrate on:
- following a weight loss plan excessive in nutritious entire meals with loads of protein and fiber
- decreasing your consumption of ultra processed foods and sugary drinks
- getting extra train each day
- getting sufficient sleep
- reducing stress as a lot as doable