Rush Limbaugh's weight loss cause of chest pains, hospitalization?

The picture of a svelte Rush Limbaugh on the most recent edition his magazine, The Limbaugh Letter, underscores the dramatic weight loss of the conservative radio host.

Now, though, many wonder if the 90+ pound loss over a few months is what caused health problems resulting in chest pains and Limbaugh's recent hospitalization where he is listed in "serious" condition.

The health concerns arose yesterday when Limbaugh experienced the chest pains while vacationing in Hawaii. A message on the host's Web site, RushLimbaugh.com, announced he was in "serious" condition and expressed gratitude for the good wishes and prayers.

ABC News and other news organizations ave ballyhooed Limbaugh's recent weight loss. Limbaugh told listeners that although he lost 90 pounds in just a few months ont he program, he wasn't clear how it worked.

In the ABC News report, Dr. Marie Savard said: "To lose that much weight -- he talked about losing as much as a pound a day which is not safe -- you need to severely cut your calories. [That] starvation mode, has potentially dangerous health effects including losing fat and lean muscle mass."

The health concerns didn't seem to deter Limbaugh even as he approached his 210 pound goal weight.

"I have no desire to stop it. In fact, I might even stay on this long enough that people think I have a deadly disease," Limbaugh joked to ABC News.

Many people use rapid weight loss programs, though, and report they work. What is your opinion? Would you ever use or recommend a rapid weight loss program? Do you think the risks of obesity outweigh the risks of such diets?