Is it easier to get stomach ulcers if you eat less to lose weight?

In order to lose weight, many people adopt the strategy of eating less. However, there is a popular saying on the Internet: "Eating less to lose weight can easily lead to stomach ulcers." Is this true? Nutritionists point out that eating less to lose weight may result in only one or two meals a day. There will be a period of time when the stomach will not have any food to digest. However, the stomach will still secrete gastric acid normally. Because there is no food to digest, the gastric acid has the opportunity to erode the stomach wall, and in severe cases, it may even cause gastric ulcers.

If you only eat one or two meals a day to lose weight, when the stomach secretes gastric acid but there is no food to digest, it may cause gastric ulcers in severe cases.

Among the 5,914 most popular questions asked by "The Doctor", one netizen asked: "Will eating less when losing weight really lead to gastric ulcers?" Xinguang Hospital nutritionist Xia Ziwen said that eating less when losing weight may mean two situations: one is eating three meals on time, but eating less food at each meal; the other is eating only one or two meals a day to achieve the goal of eating less.

Eating only one or two meals a day for a long time may cause stomach ulcers

Nutritionist Xia Ziwen said that if you adopt the first method of eating three meals on time, but eat less food, you are less likely to have stomach problems. However, it is still important to note that although the first weight loss method of eating three meals on time and reducing food intake is less harmful to the stomach, if you only eat a certain type of food for three meals, or do not eat certain foods, it may lead to nutritional imbalance. For example, only eating vegetables and fruits, meal replacements (nutrition bars, high-protein milkshakes) or high-protein foods and no carbohydrates for each meal. Long-term use of the above NG weight loss methods may cause nutritional imbalance, raise health red flags, and instead of losing weight, harm your body.

In addition, if you adopt the second method to lose weight, that is, eat only one or two meals a day, when you don't eat the meal, the stomach will appear to have no food to digest, and gastric acid is easily secreted due to the desire to eat food. When there is no food to digest, gastric acid has the opportunity to erode the stomach wall. If gastric acid is secreted excessively for a long time, stomach pain is likely to occur, and in severe cases, gastric ulcers may occur.

NG weight loss 1 / Eat only vegetables and fruits for every meal

When losing weight, eating vegetables as a main meal and not eating other types of food can help you lose weight quickly in a short period of time. However, eating only vegetables to lose weight without taking in other nutrients will cause the body to lose muscle mass, which is not conducive to weight loss. Once you resume your normal diet, not only will you easily gain weight again, you may even be fatter than before you lost weight.

Eating only vegetables to lose weight will also increase the concentration of oxalic acid in the urine. If the water intake is insufficient, it will increase the chance of urinary tract stones in the long run. Vegetables that usually taste astringent, such as spinach, asparagus and other foods, mostly contain oxalic acid.

Although meal replacements are highly nutritious, they are usually low in calories. If you only eat meal replacements when losing weight, you may easily end up with insufficient calories.

NG weight loss 2 / Only eat meal replacements for every meal

Meal replacements such as nutrition bars and high-protein shakes are popular among people who are trying to lose weight because they are high in nutrition and usually low in calories. However, if you only eat meal replacements when losing weight, you may easily end up with a calorie deficit. When losing weight, the daily calorie intake should be between 1,200 and 1,500 calories. The daily calorie intake should not be less than 800 calories. If the calorie intake is less than 800 calories, it is called a very low-calorie weight loss method.

Although the low-calorie diet can help you lose weight quickly, your basal metabolic rate will also decrease. Once you resume your normal diet, calories exceeding 800 calories will easily accumulate as fat and be stored in the body. Not only will this fail to achieve a slimming effect, it will also make you gain weight again. It is recommended that one of the three meals a day can be replaced by a meal replacement, and the other meals should maintain a balanced diet in order to lose weight healthily.

NG weight loss 3 / No meat or protein for every meal

Since protein is an essential nutrient for the human body, if you do not eat protein foods such as beans, fish, meat, and eggs when losing weight, your body will consume lean body tissue and cause muscle loss. Once the body's muscle mass decreases, the basal metabolic rate will decrease, and the calorie consumption required to maintain the body will decrease, making it easy to develop a "fat-prone physique."

In addition, protein is a component for repairing tissues, producing immunoglobulins and forming collagen. If the intake is insufficient, the defense of the skin and mucous membranes will be reduced, affecting the immune system. Not only will you feel tired easily, but your skin will also lose elasticity and wrinkles may quietly creep onto your face.

NG weight loss 4 / No carbohydrates for every meal

When carbohydrate intake is insufficient, the body will burn fat and protein to supply energy, and ketone bodies will be produced in the process. Ketone bodies are not only unable to be absorbed and utilized by the body, but also take away a large amount of water and ions when excreted from the body. Therefore, rapid weight loss can be achieved in a short period of time.

Although not eating starch can effectively reduce weight in the short term, the chance of regaining weight is very high due to the loss of muscle mass. In addition, not eating starch at all can easily lead to the risk of ketoacidosis, which can cause depression and loss of appetite. It is recommended that during the weight loss period, you can choose fiber-rich brown rice, oats, and unrefined starches such as sweet potatoes and pumpkins to replace white rice as the staple food.