With the controversy surrounding the dangers of the kimkins diet, I thought it would be a good idea to collect research on some of the dangers of very low calorie diets (VLCD) to help people make an informed decision when choosing their diet plan of choice. If you see any that are not listed here whether it is old or brand new, please share.

I have had some concerns regarding VLCD's for some time now, starting with concern regarding a shake plan that is very popular here in Australia called the Tony Ferguson diet and now an online plan based in the US that I feel is much worse called Kimkins.

An article on the dangers of the kimkins diet which is a very low calorie diet (VLCD) that should only be done under careful medical supervision.

For a long time physiology has been the lead science in combating obesity. To achieve weight loss, diets like Low Carb Diets, Glycemic Index Diet and even Very Low Calories Diets (VLCD) are designed to primarily effect physiological results.

Very low calorie diet (VLCD) is a diet with very or extremely low calorie consumption per day. It is defined medically as a diet of 800 kilocalories per day or less. VLCDs are formulated, nutritionally complete, liquid meals containing 3350 kJ (800 kcal) or less per day. VLCDs also contain the recommended daily requirements for vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and protein. The VLCD products are usually a powder which is mixed with water, juice or other low calorie liquid.A VLCD diet is aimed primarily for severely or morbidly obese adults who must lose significant amounts of weight quickly, in order to live. It is also for those individuals who wish to lose some of their weight as rapidly as possible in a safe manner. Because of the extremely low calories per day, a VLCD diet cannot be used by children no matter how obese. The average weight loss on the VLCD program is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 kg per week, but it is to be remembered that at first you only lose excess liquid from your body.A VLCD should never be undertaken without medical supervision.