As trends in weight loss, intensive training programs, and carefully curated fitness content continue to dominate social media, healthcare specialists warn that the pursuit of an 'ideal' body can sometimes harm health.
Doctors note that they are increasingly observing cases where people push diets and physical activity to extremes. Prolonged calorie restriction, rapid weight loss, and excessive workouts can potentially negatively affect hormonal balance, bone health, and mental well-being.
Dr. Priyanka Porwal, an internal medicine specialist at Aster Clinic on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, stated that in her practice, she sees growing patient focus on weight, body shape, and fitness, sometimes to the point where healthy habits turn into unhealthy extremes. She emphasized that health requires balance, and losing this equilibrium causes the body to send warning signals.
One of the main concerns associated with extreme diets and over-exercising is low energy availability, when the body does not receive enough energy to sustain both physical activity and vital functions. Dr. Porwal reported that patients may initially experience fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration, irritability, and decreased athletic performance. If the energy deficit persists, it can lead to nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, hormonal imbalances, and compromised bone health.
Ruba El Hourani, Head of Preventive Health and Nutrition at RAK Hospital, added that chronic energy deficiency also weakens the immune system and, in severe cases, can cause electrolyte imbalances, increasing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Among other possible complications, she cited stress fractures, chronic fatigue, poor recovery ability, digestive issues, and an increased risk of eating disorders.
El Hourani noted that many mistakenly believe that 'more exercise' and 'less food' automatically lead to better health. However, she warned that beyond a certain point, such behavior becomes detrimental and can seriously undermine both physical performance and long-term health.
Dr. Gaida Qaddaha, a consultant in endocrinology and diabetology at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, pointed out that severe calorie restriction, prolonged fasting, and very rapid weight loss can result in insufficient energy and nutrients in the body. She agreed that a healthy diet and regular exercise are important for overall health, but problems arise when someone pushes any of these aspects to the limit.
Dr. Porwal also reported that rapid weight loss increases the likelihood of complications such as gallstones and gastroesophageal reflux disease. For most people, she considers gradual weight loss of 0.5–0.9 kg per week to be more sustainable than attempts at swift weight loss.
Dr. Porwal stressed that 'exercise is medicine, but like any medicine, dosage matters.' She clarified that too little may not help, while too much can cause clear harm. Experts warn that prolonged lack of nutrients can disrupt hormonal and reproductive balance in both women and men, although manifestations may differ.
In women, insufficient energy availability can disrupt hormones regulating the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular periods or amenorrhea. Prolonged low estrogen levels can decrease bone density, increasing the risk of stress fractures and potentially affecting fertility. Dr. Qaddaha confirmed that 'in women, low energy availability can disrupt hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular periods or complete cessation of menstruation.' She added that over time, this can affect fertility and, combined with low estrogen, contribute to decreased bone density and increased risk of stress fractures.
Men, in turn, may experience a decrease in testosterone levels due to chronic calorie restriction and overtraining. This can manifest as decreased libido, fatigue, mood changes, impaired fertility, and muscle mass loss. Both sexes can lose muscle mass during rapid weight loss, especially if protein intake is inadequate and strength training is not performed. Bone health also suffers with persistent hormonal changes, inadequate nutrition, and excessive strain.
Dr. Porwal concluded that 'the goal of fitness is to add years to life, not just subtract kilograms from the scale.' Experts believe that the volume of exercise or dietary restrictions itself does not determine whether the behavior has become unhealthy; what matters more is how much food, physical activity, and body image control a person's life.
Signs of concern include constant calorie counting, frequent checking of weight or body shape, excluding entire food groups without medical indication, feelings of guilt or anxiety after eating, and significant distress when missing a workout. Training while sick, injured, or exhausted is also a warning sign. Furthermore, prioritizing exercise over sleep, work, studies, relationships, or social activity is a cause for concern.
Physical symptoms can provide additional clues: unexplained or rapid weight loss, constant fatigue, dizziness, unusual coldness, hair loss, changes in menstrual cycles, and recurring injuries. Dr. Qaddaha advised: 'If food, physical activity, or body image starts interfering with relationships, work, studies, sleep, or daily life, it is worth consulting a doctor or a qualified mental health professional.' She specifically noted that eating disorders can affect people of any body type, so appearance should not be the sole criterion for determining the need for help.
These warning signs are particularly important for parents observing adolescents. Dr. Porwal indicated that unexplained weight loss, mood swings, social isolation, skipping meals, excessive exercise, and growing obsession with calories or body shape should raise concerns. She reminded that 'a healthy lifestyle should allow you to eat a celebratory cake, take a rest day, and go on vacation without feeling like you committed a crime.'
Experts also insist that rest is part of fitness, not a sign of a lack of self-discipline. Doctors observe that social media creates additional pressure, especially on teenagers and young adults. Highly edited photos, filters, specific poses, and 'fitspiration' content create unrealistic views of what a healthy body should look like. Young people may compare their real, unfiltered appearance with the carefully selected online image of another person.
El Hourani noted that influencers may promote extreme diets, intense workouts, or rapid body transformations without disclosing the roles of genetics, professional support, photo editing, lighting, or commercial interests. This can stimulate restrictive eating, excessive strain, and the use of unregulated supplements or weight-loss products, potentially increasing the risk of eating disorders and mental health issues. Dr. Qaddaha also pointed to algorithms that can create a feedback loop, showing users who interact with weight loss or body transformation content more of that content.
For Dr. Porwal, the key message is that appearance cannot tell the whole story of health. She stated: 'A photograph cannot reveal a person's hormonal status, bone density, sleep, mental health, or nutritional status.' She also emphasized that there is no single 'ideal' body; genetics, age, sex, and individual physiology are involved in the process. Dr. Porwal added: 'The mirror can show you how you look. It cannot tell you what is happening with your hormones, bones, or heart.' Experts recommend focusing on strength, energy, mobility, recovery, and overall well-being, rather than trying to replicate someone else's appearance. As Dr. Porwal said, 'Fitness should make you stronger, healthier, and happier, not exhausted, anxious, and scared.'
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