> It sounds like a dumb gimmick that could never work, but there are a surprising number of people out there saying that they tried it, it worked for them, and they kept the weight off for months or even years after.
Losing weight isn't causal to being healthy. In most cases it correlates because gaining weight is usually done through eating unhealthy (excess calories, refined sugars, etc.) so going on a healthy diet means losing weight gained from unhealthy diet.
Also, there are unhealthy diets on which you can lose weight but the effects on your hormones might be even worse than an unhealthy diet that causes you to gain weight.
Losing weight isn't causal to being healthy. In most cases it correlates because gaining weight is usually done through eating unhealthy (excess calories, refined sugars, etc.) so going on a healthy diet means losing weight gained from unhealthy diet.
Also, there are unhealthy diets on which you can lose weight but the effects on your hormones might be even worse than an unhealthy diet that causes you to gain weight.