the best way to protect your bones while losing weight is to exercise regularly and eat healthy foods. however what if you don’t want to take the slow but sure route to weight loss? “[if you are] crash dieting for a few weeks for your wedding or some other big event there probably won’t be any major impact -- although i would always advise making sure you get adequate calcium and vitamin d during that time period ” says felicia cosman md medical director of the clinical research center at helen hayes hospital in haverstraw n. y. and an editor of osteoporosis: an evidence-based guide to prevention and management. but long-term “crash” dieting can have an impact on your bone health cosman says. “if you go for six months or so eating 800 or 900 calories a day that’s likely to be bad for your bones. i would say that a threshold of at least 1 200 calories per day is about what’s needed to maintain your bones and tissues. if your caloric intake is significantly below that for an extended period of time you’re probably doing damage. ”
do weight loss diets put you at risk for osteoporosis?