What is a Civil Bill?

Isn't this dangerous what can I say to convince my relative (call him bill) to not do this?

• Bill is on a 600 calorie diet. I feel that is too low for a man and could cause him to yoyo and gain more on less food in the future as the body things you are starving and resets your set point therapy level. He usually does not do so low in calories but I think a relative (call him Sam) he is living with is influencing him. Sam had gotten my relative, Bill, to do the Adkins diet which I feel is very dangerous even more so after reading the book eat to live by Dr Furhman who discussed Adkins and other diets. I think no Bill hadss stopped doing the Adkins after talking to him several times about the dangers. Now sam has changed from Adkins to being on a 100 calorie diet for I think at least 3-4 weeks now. Bill just told me that Sam, since he is eating so little (100 calories), all his appetite has left. Although the relative I am close to Bill and concerned about and who might listen to me (Sam is too headstrong to listen to anyone) is eating 600 not 100 calories, isn't this still too low? I thought a man should eat maybe somewhere between 1200-1600 if dieting. He is about 5 foot 9 and not sure how much he weighs. Is this foolish or not, will it cause yoyo or reset his previous set point and what can I say to convince Bill to diet in a more sensible manner. It seems all my mom did when he was alive is tell Bill how fat he was (and I do not think he is THAT bad personally but then I am not obsessed with weight like some people. Bill came to spread some dirt for me in my yard tonight and after 2 minutes said he was exhausted and he seemed a little woozy or weak. I asked why are you so tired, He said my blood pressure and eating so little. this is what got me concerned when I found out he was weak and only eating 600 calories. I do not understand these other relatives...who nag and who do foolish things..I wish Bill would not listen to them so much. It seems he is always on a diet, yet with all his great will power why can't I get him to eat healthier. It is like talking to a brick wall sometimes.. We are close enough that he will not think I am sticking my nose into his business. any input would be appreciated.

• Answer:

  Hi Janie, 100 or even 600 calories is very low and seriously damaging to the body. Everyone has a different base metabolic rate - BMR based on age, weight and height. Calories per day for base metabolic rate: http://www.dietivity.com/basal-metabolic-rate-how-many-calories-do-i-need-to-lose-weight/ To lose 1 pound of fat per week healthily: Subtract 250 calories daily from your BMR. Add enough exercise to burn 250 calories/day. 500 calories x 7 days = 3500 calories per week = 1 pound of weight loss. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that minimum caloric intake should never be less than 1200 calories per day for women, and 1800 calories per day for men. An example why a woman should not go below 1200 calories a day: Female 5' 2", 19 year old, 100 pounds, inactive: -The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals) -The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals) -The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals) -The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals) -The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals) The 1800 calories for men are slighty more in calories for each organ. Very low calorie diets may cause gallstones, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus and sudden death - seen after 5 months of a low calorie diet due to ventricular arrhythmias. Dangers of low calorie diets: http://www.apinchofhealth.com/resources/lowcarb/VLCD-Research.html Diet tips: Besides eating less sugar and excess fat in the diet, Soups and protein makes you feel fuller for longer; Eat breakfast; Eat 5 or 6 small meals/snacks a day; Drink plenty of water...the brain confuses thirst with hunger..try a large drink first and wait 15 minutes to see if you are really hungry; Eat on a smaller plate; Count calories to make sure you are not eating too much/or too little. Exercise...muscles are metabolically active meaning they are burning calories even when at rest. Another tip is taking digestive enzyme supplements with meals as enzymes break down the food nutrients into simpler forms. Eg: fats are split into fatty acids or carbohydrates are split into sugars. If not broken down properly, these nutrients are just deposited in the body. The enzymes lipase breaks down fats so this is the most effective with weight loss. Also sluggish thyroid function causes slower metabolism and weight gain. TSH reference range should be around 0.3 - 2.5mU/L although newer research shows above 2.0mU/L is in the early stages of hypothyroidism. Digestive enzymes help with weight loss: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/digestive-enzymes-and-weight-loss.html Heathy eating: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_variety_and_a_healthy_diet Thyroid - weight gain and recommended labwork: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork/ http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/losingweight.htm