The other day I was reading an article about starvation mode or using starvation as a form of dieting.

My immediate thought was that’s not a good or healthy approach to not only lose weight fast but to weight loss period. Now, in my head, I know this, but then I started thinking about what exactly did the scientific proof say about it. Thus, I began an internet search to find the answer which I included below.

Here is basically some of what WebMD had to say:

“Severely slashing calories leads to weight loss but the lost weight includes precious muscle mass and poses health risks — and most people end up regaining all the weight, plus some.

‘Rapid weight loss by critical calorie restriction causes water, some fat, and muscle loss, which ultimately decreases metabolism so the body needs fewer calories to survive,’ says May, author of Eat What You Love and Love What You Eat. It also causes a shift toward a higher percentage of body fat, which increases the risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Don’t cut calories below 1,200 per day; otherwise you will struggle to meet nutrient needs, fuel activity, and satisfy hunger. Keep in mind that when you lose weight quickly, you tend to pack it back on with more fat and less muscle, which lowers your metabolism and calorie needs.”

I continued to do a little more digging and found a couple of sites where individuals had done a great job of compiling the research evidence to essentially say the same thing. Although there were other and more specific revelations.

From Calorie Count at About.com: The Truth about “Starvation Mode”

From Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS:  Is Starvation Mode a Myth? No! It’s very real and here is the proof