Very Low Calorie Diet in Islamic Perspective: A Study of Effectiveness, Safety, and Sustainability in Obesity Management
Abstract
The high prevalence of obesity and the growing trend toward rapid weight loss highlight the need for effective and strategic approaches to obesity management. As a popular dietary approach, the Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) promotes weight loss through significant energy restriction. This study aims to analyze VLCD from an Islamic perspective. A qualitative approach based on library research was employed through a review of nutritional, dietary, and Islamic studies literature. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Frontiers, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases with the keywords Very Low Calorie Diet, VLCD for Obesity, Balanced Diet, and Halal and Tayyib Diet within a 10-year period (2016–2026). The literature was analyzed descriptively through data reduction, data presentation, content analysis, and conclusion drawing to assess the compatibility of VLCD with three Islamic principles: balance, the prohibition of israf, and the preservation of life. The findings indicate that VLCD, when administered under professional supervision and according to specific medical criteria, can be effective, safe, and sustainable in obesity management. These findings suggest that calorie-restricted diets are consistent with the principles of balance (wasatiyah), avoidance of excess (israf), and preservation of life (hifz al-nafs), indicating that weight loss outcomes alone should not serve as the sole basis for determining the appropriateness of an intervention. This review recommends VLCD, when applied according to appropriate medical criteria and under professional supervision, as an intervention that can provide effective outcomes in patients with obesity without compromising physiological needs, health maintenance, and sustainable weight management.
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