Work colleague loosing weight, advice needed
Discussion
Hi
Is there any Pistonhead Doctors / those in the medical field who could offer some advice that I could pass on to a work colleague.
I am the Fitness Manager of a large club in London and with my physiology degree and 15 years of experience I have often been able to offer advice regarding weight gain and weight loss issues. My work colleague has me baffled though.
He is a 22 year old otherwise healthy and fit lad. 12 months ago his body weight was 66-68 kg which is an ideal weight for his height. He was fit and strong, exercising regularly.
6 months ago he lost nearly 10 kg over a matter of weeks and since then has not been able to gain much weight. If he manages to put on a couple of kg he looses it almost over a couple of days.
He is suffering with almost daily headaches mostly on the right side of his head.
He has been back and forth to the doctors who are yet to make a diagnosis. His BP is normal with normal u+e's.
They have mentioned for some reason that the above may have some link to his asthma.
I am thinking more along the line of a thyroid issue?
Any ideas or people who have suffered the same?
He is currently 57-58 kg and looking very underweight. He is eating more than he used to and has stopped all forms of exercise to try and put the weight back on; without success.
Cheers
Is there any Pistonhead Doctors / those in the medical field who could offer some advice that I could pass on to a work colleague.
I am the Fitness Manager of a large club in London and with my physiology degree and 15 years of experience I have often been able to offer advice regarding weight gain and weight loss issues. My work colleague has me baffled though.
He is a 22 year old otherwise healthy and fit lad. 12 months ago his body weight was 66-68 kg which is an ideal weight for his height. He was fit and strong, exercising regularly.
6 months ago he lost nearly 10 kg over a matter of weeks and since then has not been able to gain much weight. If he manages to put on a couple of kg he looses it almost over a couple of days.
He is suffering with almost daily headaches mostly on the right side of his head.
He has been back and forth to the doctors who are yet to make a diagnosis. His BP is normal with normal u+e's.
They have mentioned for some reason that the above may have some link to his asthma.
I am thinking more along the line of a thyroid issue?
Any ideas or people who have suffered the same?
He is currently 57-58 kg and looking very underweight. He is eating more than he used to and has stopped all forms of exercise to try and put the weight back on; without success.
Cheers
Hoofy said:
Ignore if not relevant but is he telling you the truth? There are a lot of young people out there into the pro ana lifestyle (for want of a better phrase but google it).
I'd also be interested to know if he's drinking enough fluids?
HiI'd also be interested to know if he's drinking enough fluids?
Definitely no pro ana going on.
He consumes at least 2 litres of water a day.
I know him and his family very well, it is clear that there are no lies being told.
Cheers
Lad in work hovers just about 10st and is just over 6ft. He is fit and active and does marathons, 10k's, etc. He is what I consider to be pretty skinny. He doesn't have a lot of muscle and only has about a 32" chest.
I'm trying to lose a bit of weight so started logging my intake via myfitnesspal. I got him to do the same.
We found out that I was scoffing around 2500 calories average every day while he was only doing around 1700. Couple that with his exercise and he is down to around 1500 on a regular basis.
He always thought he ate much the same as me but the figures don't lie.
I bet your mate is not eating half as much as he thinks he is. Could be something wrong medically but could easily be he just doesn't consume enough calories for his level of activity.
I'm trying to lose a bit of weight so started logging my intake via myfitnesspal. I got him to do the same.
We found out that I was scoffing around 2500 calories average every day while he was only doing around 1700. Couple that with his exercise and he is down to around 1500 on a regular basis.
He always thought he ate much the same as me but the figures don't lie.
I bet your mate is not eating half as much as he thinks he is. Could be something wrong medically but could easily be he just doesn't consume enough calories for his level of activity.
TROOPER88 said:
Hi
Definitely no pro ana going on.
He consumes at least 2 litres of water a day.
I know him and his family very well, it is clear that there are no lies being told.
Cheers
Phew.Definitely no pro ana going on.
He consumes at least 2 litres of water a day.
I know him and his family very well, it is clear that there are no lies being told.
Cheers
In that case, either tapeworm (as above) or cancer(!) are my next two thoughts. I'm just throwing these ideas out but he must have had blood tests which would confirm the latter, anyway. And I'm going for the scatter gun approach so I am bound to get it right and look like a genius even if it was a complete guess.
Or stress because his boss is a complete Nazi git.
Edit: Z4monster's suggestion is also a good one. Does he eat very healthily and have a tendency to avoid stuff like bread and pasta?
Edited by Hoofy on Sunday 14th October 11:04
Unlikely to be hyperthyroidism unless he displays other associated symptoms but adrenal gland problems (cortisol is needed for growth) could also be a cause.
Constant headaches merit a trip to the doctors,just to be sure... and have blood work done.
You need to be more specific about what he's eating..cals and protein/carbs and you don't mention whether he trains CV/weights or endurance/hypertrophy etc..
Do you monitor his training?
If he checks out OK at the docs then his training is at fault.
Constant headaches merit a trip to the doctors,just to be sure... and have blood work done.
You need to be more specific about what he's eating..cals and protein/carbs and you don't mention whether he trains CV/weights or endurance/hypertrophy etc..
Do you monitor his training?
If he checks out OK at the docs then his training is at fault.
common misconception.
t?!MocMocaMoc said:
Genuine WTF?Thought it was spoof but it seems not.
If you find you must go to a family or somewhat thing, get something reasonable like a muffin, and just carry it around with you.
Put dishes in the sink, leave evidence from what you've eaten
Don't forget to get rid of food you were supposed to eat
Put your diet pills in a vitamin bottle
Don't tell people you think you are fat
Invet some mysterious illness, wich will be a good excuse not to eat!
Rick101 said:
MocMocaMoc said:
Genuine WTF?Thought it was spoof but it seems not.
If he lost 10kg in a matter of weeks, it is possible something serious is going on. The list of causes is huge... D+V, crohns, GI Ca, or DM/Hyperthyroidism/addisons/Pheochromocytoma, or he could be anorexic, or maybe taking drugs. These are just a few of a huge number possible causes.
If he's seeing Dr.s then thats a good start
If he's seeing Dr.s then thats a good start
Might be something genuinely amiss (which I can't & wouldn't comment on).
Otherwise, is he actually consuming more than he was or is it a question of perception?
If he's having daily headaches then maybe he isn't having anything while they linger and then over eating a bit post those (while actually eating less overall)? Not aware of many people who wolf food down while suffering from a serious head (me included & I've had more than a few) and maybe he's actually having less overall while continuing to train?
How many weeks are we looking at to lose 10kg & how hard is he really trying to put it back on (probably sounds a bit off but there are always relative degrees of effort in terms of pigging out)?
Daily headaches & asthma - Some variation on sleep apnoea maybe?
Otherwise, is he actually consuming more than he was or is it a question of perception?
If he's having daily headaches then maybe he isn't having anything while they linger and then over eating a bit post those (while actually eating less overall)? Not aware of many people who wolf food down while suffering from a serious head (me included & I've had more than a few) and maybe he's actually having less overall while continuing to train?
How many weeks are we looking at to lose 10kg & how hard is he really trying to put it back on (probably sounds a bit off but there are always relative degrees of effort in terms of pigging out)?
Daily headaches & asthma - Some variation on sleep apnoea maybe?
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