Fatty Liver: Losing Weight Too Fast – Should You Worry?

What happens if you lose weight too fast when starting your diet to reverse fatty liver? You’ve probably seen or heard in many places that rapid weight loss can make your fatty liver worse (or even be a cause for fatty liver).

This sounds alarming, especially when you’re doing everything possible to be healthier. So, what’s the real story here?

First, let’s understand what “too fast” really means. Generally speaking, a healthy rate of weight loss is up to 2 pounds (around 1 kg) per week. If you’re around this mark, there’s no reason to worry. But what if you lose weight a bit faster, especially during the first few weeks of dieting?

For example, when I started dieting to reverse my fatty liver, in the first month or two, I was actually losing up to 3.3 pounds (1.5kg) per week. That was a bit faster than what’s recommended, and I was concerned. But even with that faster rate, I was able to reverse my fatty liver and regain my health.

So the key here is understanding how your body responds and adjusting as needed. It’s also important to note that this wasn’t the rate I lost weight in the long term.

I was pretty overweight, on the brink of obesity, with a BMI of around 29. When I dropped my caloric intake from whatever I was having to a healthier amount of a bit under 2,000 calories per day, the caloric deficit was so great that my weight loss was more substantial. So my body responded by shedding pounds quickly.

However, as time went on, my rate of weight loss slowed down, even though I was still eating the same amount. This plateau is natural and expected. And that is when I started adding exercise into my life, as well as dealing with dieting fatigue.

If you want to make sure that you lose weight the right way and do everything that’s needed to reverse your fatty liver, I recommend checking out Reverse Your Fatty Liver – a book that has everything you need to know laid out flawlessly.

Why Does Rapid Weight Loss Affect Fatty Liver?

When you lose weight too fast, your liver can get overwhelmed. When fat is broken down quickly, it floods your bloodstream with fatty acids. Your liver is already under stress dealing with fat buildup from NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and the extra fatty acids can add even more pressure.

Some studies also suggest that rapid weight loss can lead to inflammation or scarring in the liver. You can read more about these potential reasons why rapid weight loss can make fatty liver worse on the Patient website.

But how fast is “too fast”? There isn’t a universally agreed-upon figure, but rapid weight loss – such as dropping more than 3 pounds (1.4 kg) per week for a sustained period – is generally seen as unhealthy. Not just for the liver, but also for other potential risks, like nutrient deficiencies and muscle loss.

Also read: Is Smoking/Vaping Bad for Fatty Liver?

The truth is that any type of extremely fast rapid loss is not sustainable in the long term either. So even if you lose 3 kilos per week (which would be considered unhealthy), you won’t be able to stick to such a diet in the long term.

The fight to reverse fatty liver is a marathon and it requires a permanent change in the eating habits that we have, so it’s better to go slow and steady. That’s the easiest way to win this race. That’s how I did it and this is how I recommend your approach to be as well, especially because you need to stick to this new way of eating for life.

My Experience and What You Should Watch Out For

If you are losing weight at an alarming rate and there’s no logical explanation for this, you should consult your physician immediately. Rapid weight loss without an apparent reason is not healthy and an expert’s opinion should be sought ASAP.

In my case, I got worried seeing that I was losing weight so fast after starting my fatty liver diet, and after just a couple of weeks, I scheduled another meeting with my hepatologist.

Everything was OK in my case – she analyzed what I was eating and concluded that I was overdoing it a bit, but she wasn’t really concerned about this. I wasn’t starving myself, just eating a lot healthier though.

This is what happens when you jump from eating lots of fatty and sugary foods to eating zucchini, eggplants, and other healthy options. And, of course, no soda.

If you are seeing fast results, make sure that your body’s basic needs are met. Losing weight too quickly can put a lot of stress on your liver, especially if your diet isn’t balanced.

Make sure you are getting the right nutrients and not cutting out major food groups entirely. Yes, it’s tempting to restrict calories more drastically, but that is not sustainable.

So as long as you do follow a diet that feeds you way fewer calories than what you used to have, there probably is nothing wrong. But I still recommend playing it safe like I did and visiting the doctor again, just to be sure that all is OK.

A Marathon, Not a Sprint

The journey to reverse fatty liver is just that – a journey. It’s not about how fast you can lose weight but rather how sustainable those changes are. It requires a permanent shift in the way you eat and live, which is difficult (but you get used to this).

And yes, it takes time. It took me 1 year and a half to reverse fatty liver disease. Still, the rewards are worth the patience.

If you’re just starting, don’t panic if your weight drops quickly at first. For many people, initial weight loss is more significant due to water weight and the shock of shifting to healthier eating habits. After the first few weeks, things usually even out, and that’s when the real, steady progress starts.

If your weight loss is alarmingly fast, though, without a clear reason, it’s always best to consult with your physician. Unexplained rapid weight loss is never a good sign, and getting a medical opinion can rule out any underlying problems.

Conclusion

We usually get scared reading all sorts of stories on the internet. I know I did when I started losing weight so fast, but I fortunately kept going.

Since very few people mention what “too fast” truly means, some of us might consider that they’re losing too much weight too quickly – without it even being the case.

This is why it is important to always check multiple sources and especially visit an expert (your doctor, in this case) to make sure that all is OK. Stress is also bad for the fatty liver, and worrying too much won’t help you stick to your diet and new way of living.

But overall, as long as you do follow a healthy diet, eat the right things, and don’t overdo it in the long term, a few hundred grams over what’s recommended as safe weight loss shouldn’t hurt you – it sure didn’t do me any harm!

I need your help to keep this website alive! Consider becoming a Patron to help me achieve that. Thank you!