You are living in a bubble if you don’t know who Orry is. “I am a liver”, rings any bells? Orry or Orhan Awatramani is the latest internet sensation and the world simply can’t get enough of him. The BFF of pretty much all the B-town star kids, Orry is at every star-studded event making headlines with his iconic pose. Recently, he was seen at the Big Boss house and opened up to Salman Khan about his tremendous weight loss.
In a follow-up interview, he shed further light on his weight loss journey and how he literally starved himself to get into his desired body shape. But is it the right way to go about it?
What Is Starvation?
Starvation refers to the practice of going for extended periods without food or going with way less than what your body needs on a regular basis. Though this practice might lead to a significant drop in body weight, it is highly unsustainable and unhealthy. The body requires a certain amount of calories to function properly and starving the body of those calories will only lead to numerous health risks.
Also Read: Weight Loss Diet: Expert Lists 7 Drinks To Boost A Sluggish Metabolism
What Can Starving Do To Your Body?
According to Dr. Manish Itolikar, Consultant Physician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, starving oneself is the most unhealthiest way to shed those extra pounds. This significant calorie deficit not only affects the body adversely in terms of physical aspects, but can also deteriorate one’s mental health.
- Affects Metabolism: Depriving the body of the required calories can have an adverse effect on one’s metabolism. In order to tackle the calorie deficit, the body significantly refuses the resting metabolic rate or RMR. Once the RMR drops, it is highly likely that it will remain suppressed even after regaining the lost weight and increasing the calorie intake.
- Affects Other Bodily Functions: Because of the calorie deficit, the body starts prioritizing the heart rate and breathing and slows down other bodily processes. It can lead to the hair and nails becoming brittle, skin starts to age prematurely, and bone density can decrease.
- Reduces Immunity: In the long run, starving can severely affect your immune system, and the body can have a hard time dealing with infections and illnesses.
- May Harm Mental Health: Prolonged starvation can also lead to irritability, insomnia, and neurological decline. The probability of developing eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder also becomes highly likely.
Also Read: Weight Loss: Eat These 5 Good Carbs To Shed Kilos
Healthy Ways To Lose Weight
Instead of starving oneself to lose weight, it is better to adopt healthier and more sustainable ways. According to Dr. Manish Itolikar, here are a few ways one can manage their weight without harming their bodily functions.
- Intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting is a process of systematically moving to and fro between fasting and eating. The most preferred method is 16 hours of fasting with 8 hours of eating window.
- Regular Physical Activity: Along with monitoring the calorie intake, it is also pivotal to engage in regular physical activity. A combination of cardiorespiratory exercises and strength training for at least 30 minutes a day should do it.
- Stay Hydrated: Water plays an important role in keeping your body healthy overall. Hence, it is advised to drink enough water and stay away from any sugary drinks to stay hydrated.
- Eliminate Processed Foods: Even though cutting calories is the goal, your meal still needs to be balanced with all essential nutrients, which are not there in processed foods. So, it is essential to cut off and eliminate all such foods from your diet.
Losing those extra pounds as quickly as possible might sound tempting, but starving is clearly not an option. It not only affects your physical health but can also be detrimental to your mental health. If you are struggling with weight loss and noticing the early signs of eating disorders, it is advised to seek assistance from a professional.