What Are The Dangers Of Losing Weight Too Quickly?

[Barsel]

A friend of mine decided to lose some weight and he is doing this by hardly eating anything. He is 71yrs old and about 6ft tall and he is going by the weight charts that tell you how much you should weigh for your height.He reckons he still has another stone to lose, but he is looking really gaunt and to me, his skin looks yellow. Is he putting his health at risk? Thanks.

[ummmm]

I think at 71 any weight loss would look more severe than if he was younger.

He's going about it wrong if he's hardly eating though. He doesn't have to eat loads just regular and healthy.

[dannyk13]

Weight to height ratio charts are only a guide.They do not take into consideration things like being large boned or musculature.

[Barsel]

I've told him this ummmm but he is a very obstinate person. If I could find out if by doing this he is making himself ill,eg, jaundice it might just make him re-think.I've told him to go to the GP or nurse for advice but he won't.

[Buenchico]

Among other things, rapid weight loss can lead to liver damage:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/35737-risks-losing-much-weight-quickly/

Jaundice is a symptom of liver damage:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Jaundice/Pages/Introduction.aspx

There might not be a link between the two in your friend's case but the yellowing of his skin alone should be enough for him to get his liver function checked out by his GP anyway.

[ummmm]

I'd certainly try and be more forceful about getting him to see the GP. I noticed my dads skin and the whites of his eyes were going yellow. The outcome wasn't good, sadly.

[Barsel]

ummmm I'm sorry to hear that about your Dad. x
Chris, thanks for the links, I will have a read and pass the links on to my friend.
I had jaundice once, before having my gallbladder removed due to gallstones, but I couldn't really link the losing of weight with the jaundice so perhaps the articles will enlighten me. Thanks again.

[Sqad]

I am not convinced that he will do himself any harm....that is even if he keeps it up......which i doubt.
The skin of people who have had a rapid diet weight loss always looks yellowish, but that is not a big deal providing that the white of his eyes are not yellow and these people always look GAUNT.
No I don't think he is putting his health at risk.
Leave him alone.

[Barsel]

Sqad could you tell me what you consider to be a healthy weight for a man of his age and height please?

[Sqad]

Barsel.......no I can't.......

Less than 100kilos.

[dannyk13]

Barsel, without a physical examination I doubt that Sqad could do that. See post at 10.29.

[237SJ]

Are you sure he`s definitely on a diet and there isn`t some other reason why he has lost weight that he is in denial about/not admitting? Make sure he`s drinking plenty to supplement the loss of fluid from the lack of food

[Barsel]

Yes I understand that danny and as you say, the charts are only a guide. I will have to work out what 100kilos is in st and lbs.I haven't even asked my friend how much he weighs I just know he looks too thin and yellow.

[Sqad]

Barsel.....IF....IF ...he has jaundiced and lost weight.....it has nothing to do with dieting and if the whites of his eyes are yellow, his urine dark or his stools pale.....then he should see his GP as this sounds ..serious.

[Barsel]

I don't know really 237SJ if he has an underlying illness, but he has told me what he eats in a day (mostly dry Ryvitas) and I don't think he would lie to me about what he eats.

[Barsel]

Sqad, he's 71yrs old and a friend. I'm not going to ask him the colour of his stools or urine.

[Barsel]

I 've tried that geojayne but he just ignores me when I tell him what he should be eating for a healthy diet. I think the only thing to make him see sense is if I tell him he is harming his body but Sqad said (No I don't think he is putting his health at risk) so I'm not sure now.

[Barsel]

Ha ha geojayne, that me laugh as I probably would actually throw it at him. :-) x