is this weight loss healthy?

Question

My dad is 36 years old and in September he went on a diet. He NEVER exercised and still kept losing weight. All he eats is apples, oranges, tuna fish, and rice cakes. He lost about 80 pounds since September and keeps losing weight doing this. I mean he looks like a little puney kid now, and my whole family knows he looks weird. He even faints sometimes and he chews gum all gross and snaps when he chews it lol. it is so disgusting and annoying, so any thoughts on this? I know he lost weight but he is so small and sickly skinny.

He used to weight 230 and now weighs 150.

well he chews gum to get the cravings away

he's about 5'11"

Answer 1

I agree with the gum snapping. It is revolting. When you lose weight it is important to eat a balanced diet and I don't see the greens. I know that tuna has a lot of mercury in it and there have been advisories against eating too much. Better to eat fish that are smaller and have not been in the ocean long enough to absorb the mercury. There are things like turkey and turkey ham that are extremely low in calories and I eat on sliced apples. Get him on vitamins immediately. A varied diet is important.

Answer 2

Loosing a little under 11.5 a month in body weight is not unreasonable, honestly. But, what is important is where he fits within BMI guidelines. How healthy his weight loss, also is dependent on where he falls within the BMI, according to weight and height. If he is underweight, then it is obvious he seriously has an eating disorder. Now, BMI is only suggested, but is is a suggested guideline tool by nutrition and dietary medical experts.

The fainting signals possible serious health issues...and, it could be diet related. I can't say whether it is or not, since I don't know what his estimate caloric intake is or other factors that need to be observed, such as weight, blood tests, etc. Chewing gum the way you describe is not really an important concern, but only to you and others that find it socially unacceptable--its a so what. But, the 'small' and 'sickly skinny' concerns me and prompts me to have another adult confront him on the issue of seriously seeking a physical...especially the fainting spells...it could be something as simple as not obtaining enough calories to something more serious as a brain tumor.

The link below is to a BMI Calculator. Use it to show your father where he stands in regard to healthy weight. While you seem to be indifferent and find his situation humorous, it sounds serious.

Edit add: I realize that the gum chewing is to stave off cravings...but, my response to it is because of the way that you had written about it--its still not a serious issue to be concerned about.

I looked at his weight and hieght ratio. He is in healthy range. His base weight, if using the BMI calculator to guide, is 144#s. Anything lower is 'underweight.' He should now be concerned about leveling off and eating healthy to maintain his weightloss. He has done well. He should still see a doctor, in my opinon...just for a check up and to address the fainting spells. And, an exercise program to buff up!:-)

Answer 3

If he's fainting, then it probably isn't the healthiest diet.

I don't know what snapping gum has to do with anything but have you thought of telling your dad that you think he's lost enough weight and that you don't think he should lose more?

Without knowing how tall he is by how much he weighs -- nor his body-type and fitness level I can't tell you if he is too skinny or not.

Talk to him and find out what his weight loss goals are and what he'll do when he reaches them. Plus, positive reinforcement (ie. saying that he doesn't need to lose anymore weight because he's skinny enough as it is) may be just what he's looking for.

Good luck!

Answer 4

HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS, you'll only use 1-2 lbs a week. food- limit to 1500 calories a day to eat. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, dairy, nuts. Exercise - try to exercise every single day - walking, biking to class, taking the stairs, walking around the entire campus, walk briskly and quickly and try to beat your time week after week. If one lap around the campus takes 1 hour, try to make it 56 minutes the next week, then 54 minutes, etc. Other exercises, trying to jog, going to the gym, is great. Try and exercise 45-60 minutes a day. You can try a sport if you want. exericisng every day, limiting food intake, you'll lose weight. Cheating every now and then with a cookie is ok. Not an entire bag. Slowly you'll lose your taste for them. I have. I'm doing stir fry veggies and chicken or shrimp for dinner, like 150-200 calories, total. A granola bar is 120-140 calories. Eat salads, do veggies and dip, buy a bag of apples and eat 1 or 2 a day. Cottage cheese and fruit is really good. Doing these things week after week, month after month, they will become lifestyle changes you make for like. Fad diets, water diet, grapefuit diet, fruit diet, these are all short term diets where you lose weight and then gain it back quickly.

Answer 5

No, it is not healthy at all. The mercury alone in the tuna will become a problem for him. He is not getting the nutrients he needs eventhough those fruits are part of a good balanced diet. Plain and simple you need to eat right AND exercise.

Answer 6

well your dad lost both muscle and fat and since his diet is not a lifestyle change rather than a temporary quick fixer me upper he lost all that weight plus water weight. and his diet is not heathy but rather alarming. if he passes out and is becomning too skinny and all he eats are fruits and rice cakes which have little caloric value as well as nutritinal value, that resulted in him passing out.also chewing gum keeps your dad from shoving food in his mouth and it is my best suggestion that he puts some weight on because he has caused damaged to his body with this yo yo diet of little food and no exercise. if he wanted to lose weight the right way he should of eaten the food that he enjoyed before but in moderation vs. almost no food at all. he gets no protein, no carbs and no fats which is bad because every person needs fats to survive as well as pasta and other carbs to keep their sugar level the way it is supposed to be-at equilibrioum. you and your family have to intervene because your dad will not change his eating habits because he has seen these great results with minimal food.if not take him to a doctor who can help him.

Answer 7

First why the hell is he doing this? Second... nope this is not healthy! Maybe for a little while but for 6 mos? He needs to get a grip he is acting anorexic..... Deprivation is why he chews that gum like that. Why is he on a death wish?

Answer 8

Eat a diet filled with all natural healthy whole foods

Answer 9

Well, weightloss to a certain extent is extremely healthy. But it sounds like he has taken it way too far. Ask his doctor for help.

Answer 10

No it is not healthy at all
Maybe he is bulimic. There is no way he can be losing that much or even anything from just eating like that. Or he isn't eating much.