Viral Watermelon Diet To Lose Weight, Effective Or Dangerous?

Illustration of watermelon diet. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Recently it has gone viral on social media watermelon diet or diet, which is called a quick trick to detox or remove poison, and lose weight in a short time.

Quoted from Women's Health, on Sunday, August 17, 2025, the watermelon diet requires one to only consume watermelons for 3 to 7 days, with the most popular version being 5 days. Some extra foods are allowed, such as low-fat proteins, but the majority only rely on watermelons as a source of energy.

This diet method is viral on TikTok, and many users have done so claiming to have lost weight after only consuming watermelons for five days.

However, experts do not recommend doing watermelon diet. Semangka is indeed a fruit that contains a lot of vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and water content of around 90 to 92 percent, so that the stomach can feel full even though the calories consumed are low.

However, with only consumption of weight loss watermelons generally comes from loss of body fluids and muscle mass, not burning fat. The lost weight can return easily if the normal diet is continued.

"You may be able to lose weight. But once you start eating other foods, all the weight will return," said nutritionist Keri Gans, RD.

Semangka is also not recommended to be the only food intake consumed. Eating only watermelons can lead to various risks for the body.

Starting from lack of protein and fat, the risk of muscle loss due to lack of essential amino acids, electrolyte disorders, dizziness, fatigue, to digestive problems.

Even though watermelons are healthy foods, they are not healthy to live with watermelons. It's the same as any single food," he explained.

The best way to lose weight is to apply a balanced diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Semangka can be included in the daily menu as fresh snacks, not as the only source of nutrients for the body.