South Korean Comedian Park Na Rae has admitted to experiencing post-syndromes of extreme dieting which had helped her shed 13 pounds.
Park recently revealed on the reality show I Live Alone that she went from 117 pounds to 104 pounds in nearly four months. She then shared the changes she noticed in her body since her weight loss.
She said, “After losing weight, I feel kind of cold and a bit of fatigue that I didn’t experience before,” and added, “My body profile partner, Hyun Moo, also looked tired.”
Experts say that extreme weight loss in a short period enhances the likelihood of side effects including a sense of coldness and fatigue. The main cause is a lack of muscle. Over 50% of the body’s heat comes from muscles. Warm blood created in the heart is distributed throughout the body through muscle movement, with the contraction and relaxation of muscles generating the heat.
Also, if you reduce your food intake for dieting, you will feel more fatigued as your energy expenditure decreases. If you maintain a low-calorie diet for a long time, the amount of glycogen in your body decreases, and you will feel fatigued even with a little movement.
If you lack muscle, blood cannot properly circulate in your body, making it difficult to regulate body temperature and more vulnerable to the cold. This also explains why the elderly with less muscle mass or those who have succeeded in extreme dieting often feel the cold.
If you strengthen your muscles, your basal metabolic rate increases, reducing your sensitivity to the cold as well as feelings of fatigue.
If you find yourself more sensitive to the cold after dieting as Park shared, it’s recommended that you check on your muscle condition and engage in muscle training. It is important to develop muscle mass centered around lower body exercises as this part of the body accounts for two-thirds of your body’s muscles.
In addition to feeling cold and fatigued, other aftereffects of dieting include decreased concentration and reduced bone density. Long-term consumption of an unbalanced diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies and stress, which can harm the ability to concentrate. If the nutrients that are necessary for brain function are lacking, this effect can be even more pronounced. In such cases, it can be helpful to consume foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for brain development, such as mackerel, salmon, olive oil, and nuts. Getting sufficient rest and sleep is also recommended.
