Weight and weight loss can be tricky subjects, especially when it comes to eating disorder treatment and recovery. At times, our patients have inquired about needing a “jump start” to weight loss. For some, the idea of “jump starting” can symbolize a beginning of something dramatic and different. When it comes to weight, this usually involves a drastic change that can include some degree of restriction, cutting calories, limiting food groups, or meals all together.

People believe that drastic, immediate, and intense action will enable behavior change forever. In addition, it is further fuled by the plethora of avenues that promise instant gratificuation such as social media, Google searches and online shopping. When it comes to change, instant gratification is incongruous with long-term behavioral changes.

This is not to diminish the urgency some feel about wanting their body shape, size or weight to change. This can feel intolerable for so many and is certainly a part of the recovery process especially body acceptance. However, in typical diet culture, people “diet” or restrict for a handful of weeks and either see immediate results followed by just as immediate setbacks or are disappointed with lack of desired results quickly throwing in the towel.

In eating disorder treatment and recovery, dieting and/or restriction can become so extreme that people either end up with severe low body weight and/or exhibiting other eating disorder behaviors such as binging/purging/laxative abuse/overexercise. Jump starts launching us into the beginning of behaviors change can be at best ineffective and at worst a dangerous approach.

Rapid weight loss can have dramatic effects on one’s mental health and physical health. Severely restricting caloric intake results in a slowing of the metabolism, causing the body to go into starvation mode and to start conserving energy. In addition, through rapid weight loss, a significant amount of that weight can come from lean muscle mass, compromising one’s body composition. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29201070/).

This jump start becomes the beginning of the vicious cycle (see image below). This cycle is apparent in patients both with and without diagnosed eating disorders.

(https://www.portneuf.org/the-vicious-diet-cycle/)

In a review of factors associated with weight maintenance, studies show those with “regular meal rhythm including breakfast and healthier eating, social support, better coping strategies and have the ability to handle life stress, self- efficacy, autonomy, assuming responsibility in life, and overall more psychological strength and stability. Factors that may pose a risk for weight (changes) include weight cycling, eating in response to negative emotions and stress, and more passive reactions to problems'' (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2005.00170.x). These factors validate that weight is more complicated than a simple jump start and have a lot more to do with mental health than we may often give credit for.

Rapid weight loss for ANYONE is never a good idea, especially those in eating disorder treatment and recovery. Rapid weight loss can lead to other destructive behaviors and may end up even worse than when one began. Rapid weight loss is problematic and can result in severe subsequent medical and psychological issues. Weight and especially weight loss are very complicated in eating disorder recovery and should be processed with a qualified clinician.