Is slow weight loss actually healthier?

Does anybody know of any actual studies that show slow weight loss is best for our health?  The only one's I have found have to do with dieting slow so that the weight loss is more likely to be permanent. Thanks! Rana

That is a good question. I have heard that it is much easier on your skin and heart. I've heard that rapid weight loss releases more stress hormones...like starvation mode? It makes sense that you would have a lot more toxins desolving and circulating in your body as waste products are broken down in fat cells.  This would be a good Q for Dr. Oz! Linsey

What is up with my spelling? How shameful!

Slow weight loss is less likely to cause gallstones and lead to surgery requiring removal of gallbladder. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1858735&dopt=Citation Here's a good article, but limited cites...might be worthwhile emailing the site or authors to get sources. http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/aa144561 Nancy

IFor me, it's more of a mind-over-body thing.  I'm an emotional eater and weight loser.  Slow weight loss would allow me to work through all of the emotional reasons that I carry extra pounds.  Plus, if I work harder, it might make me less likely to regain the weight as I would have learned how to lose it.   I googled and found an article relating to this which I thought was interesting. http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/setgoals.htm

Thank you!  These sites were helpful. ~Rana

I have dieted off in excess of 100 pounds multiple times in my life. It takes me about 12 weeks to do so. The problem is that I am substituting a short-term behavior instead of truly modifying my lifestyle. And that does not work. So, speaking in terms of a morbidly obese person who has surgery and loses quickly, the questioin I would ask is this: "Are they establishing a lifestyle change in what they are doing, and is that lifestyle change sustainable for the rest of their lives?" I believe the statistics of RNY patients in regards to the percentage of them *****gain substancial amounts of weight will validate my belief that slower IS better.

Maybe I am biased because I did loose rapidly, but I have had no complications and feel great. I beleive i have changed my lifestyle effectively to one that is sustainable for life. i don't feel deprived or lacking anything. I have never stuck to a diet for this long. And I am excersising for really the first time in my adult life. Maybe I am the weird one but I feel that it will depend on the individua :)

Thanks to everyone who has responded.  It appears that gallbladder problems and bone density are of main concern, and of course, the weight regain problem. THANKS! ~Rana