What is OMAD diet? Karan Johar’s viral weight loss trend raises health concerns among experts

The OMAD (One Meal a Day) diet has been trending among those following strict weight loss regimes, but its popularity has skyrocketed after Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar opened up about it. His endorsement has led many fans and followers to explore this extreme form of intermittent fasting. However, health experts are sounding a note of caution, warning that OMAD isn't suitable for everyone. 

 

According to health experts, eating just one meal a day could lead to nutritional deficiencies or other health concerns if not followed under professional guidance. 

 

While opening up about his weight loss journey, Karan Johar revealed that OMAD helped him shed 20 kgs. He also said that he had not used any weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro. 

 

He said he followed 'one meal a day' plan for seven months, while eating the meal only at 8 or 8:30 pm. In an interview, he further added that his meal was, "lactose-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free." 

 

What is OMAD? 

 

OMAD (One Meal a Day) is a type of intemittent fasting that restricts calorie consumption. It helps in weight loss and provide other health benefits including improving the blood sugar levels and helping in keeping the gut healthy. 

 

What are the risks involved? 

 

1. Sustainability: Though the OMAD diet can give quick results, sticking to it could be tough as it requires a lot of discipline. It may affect your social life and may not be a sustainable long-term diet. 

 

2. Hormonal problems: Sticking to such a rigorous diet may lead to hormonal issues, especially among women. Fasting for such long hours daily could affect the menstrual cycle, leading to missed or irregular periods. Extended fasting can also affect thyroid hormones in some women, slowing down metabolism and making it harder to lose weight. 

 

3. Essential nutrients: Another major issue is protein intake. In normal cases, your body needs one gram of protein per kilogram per day and getting all that in one meal is tough. Missing out on essential nutrients can cause another set of serious health issues. 

Health