Skip to content
Sign in

My cousin's wedding is in a month. Friends say to do only fruit and water diet to lose weight fast. Is it harmful?

An AskHer answer: what is known, what depends on you, and what only a clinician can decide.

Nobody asked this one. AskHer’s editorial team wrote the question to open the topic. It is not anyone’s submission, and nobody’s own words are in it.

Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person Version 1 · Not yet reviewed by a person · English

The short explanation

A fruit-and-water-only diet is not a good idea, even for a short time. It gives very little protein, fat, iron and other nutrients, so you may feel weak, dizzy, irritable and tired, and lose muscle as well as fat. Much of the quick drop on the scale is water, which tends to come back as soon as you eat normally. Crash diets can also trigger binge eating, worsen acidity, disturb periods and lead to a cycle of losing and regaining weight. If you want to feel better for the wedding, a few weeks of balanced meals, fewer fried snacks and sweets, enough sleep and daily walking can help you feel lighter and more energetic without the risks.

What depends on your situation

The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.

  • Anyone with diabetes, low blood pressure, anaemia, a history of fainting, or a past eating disorder should avoid extreme diets.
  • If you find yourself thinking constantly about food, weight or body shape, or feel guilt after eating, it may help to talk to a doctor or counsellor.
  • Social media often promotes quick fixes that are not based on evidence.

What this answer cannot determine

The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.

  • This cannot tell you what diet is right for your body. A doctor or dietitian can give advice based on your health and goals.

Questions for your clinician

Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.

  1. What is a realistic and healthy weight goal for me?
  2. How can I lose weight without feeling weak?
  3. Do I need any blood tests before changing my diet?
  4. Can I see a dietitian?

When to seek help

Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.

Emergency — call 112 now

  • Call 112 if you faint and do not recover quickly, or have chest pain or a racing heart while dieting.

Get help the same day

  • Get care the same day if you feel very dizzy, confused or unable to keep food down.

Raise it at a routine appointment

  • Book a routine appointment if you want help planning a sustainable diet.

Sources

The evidence this explanation is built on.

  1. Weight control MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
  2. Healthy diet World Health Organization
  3. Vegetarian diet MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)

Who wrote and reviewed this

Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.

Author
AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
Clinical reviewer
Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
Review status
Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
Last reviewed
Not yet reviewed by a person
Version
1

Correction history

Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.

No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.

Did this answer your question?

Whatever you choose is filed against this version of the answer, never against you, and it is never shown as a count.

Explain more simply My question is different

“Explain more simply” asks you which part was hard to follow, so the author knows what to rewrite. “My question is different” opens a private follow-up with this answer attached.


Saving, following up and reporting are all private. Nothing you do on this page is visible to other readers or to the doctor who wrote it, unless you ask a question.