Although obesity in itself is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, massive, poorly monitored weight loss and/or weight cycling can have equally dire consequences. Among the important potential complications to watch out for in the setting of weight loss are the following:

• Cardiac arrhythmias;
• Electrolyte derangements - Hypokalemia is the most important of these;
• Hyperuricemia;
• Psychological sequelae - Including depression and the development of eating disorders (particularly binge-eating disorders);
• Cholelithiasis.