Eating Small Amounts Of Food.

[Barsel]

Why doesn't eating small amounts of food lead to weight loss?
A friend of mine eats very little, not because she wants to lose weight (even though she is over 13st) but because she doesn't have a good appetite.
Her son who lives with her prepares and cooks most of her meals but she only eats a small portion of the meal and sometimes barely touches it, and yet she never loses weight.
Before lockdown, she used to go to keep fit 2 or 3 times a week and although that isn't up and running yet, she does go for a walk everyday and keeps fairly active.
We are told that eating less and exercising more leads to weight loss, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
How is this possible?

[margarettom]

Maybe she’s a secret snacker.

[Milo2]

My mother in law ate small portions at meal times but ate lots of biscuits between these so never lost weight.

[Vagus]

Let’s be honest, she’s obviously getting the calories from somewhere isnt she, despite eating small portions? It’s surprising when you keep a food diary exactly what you do eat and drink.

[Barsel]

I can't really answer that, but I do know a while ago she was told she was pre diabetic??? and although she used sweeteners in her coffee, she stopped that and she said she doesn't eat chocolate because it gives her reflux.
Whenever I have a coffee at her house, she never offers me a biscuit, so I assumed she doesn't buy them.
I know she was very concerned about getting diabetes, so assumed she would be eating sugary snacks.

[Barsel]

'wouldn't be eating sugary snacks'

[Tilly2]

Does she drink alcohol?

[pastafreak]

If she's eating too little, her metabolism slows down, and her body may use less energy.
Of course, there is also the possibility of secret eating.

[Barsel]

Tilly, no, I have never known her to have an alcoholic drink. Even when we used to go out for meals a long time ago, she only ever drank water.

[Barsel]

Pasta, have a look at my post @13.35.
Of course I can't be certain she doesn't eat lots of snacks as I can only take her word for it.

[alavahalf]

Theres a guy who works with me .. he was confirmed to be diabetic and needed to lose weight. He goes to the gym and eats all the right things so he says, but still he loses no weight. A few weeks ago I was searching for a bulb in a storeroom. Rooting through some boxes I came across a hoard of chocolates, crisps and goodies. I sent him a text and told him" I had found his goodies and that when they amputate his feet, not to worry .. I will cover his sick leave".

[Barsel]

alavahalf I suppose I could have a root through her cupboards, but I wouldn't know if they were hers or her sons.
I was hoping someone might know if there could be a scientific reason for it.

[roopower]

It could be genetic, some people are naturally slim, lucky people.

[Ken4155]

She doesn't offer you a biccy 'cos she's scoffed them all :-))

[Rosetta]

I would have thought it unlikely she is naturally slim if she is over 13stone. A secret snacker would be my guess

[Canary42]

13 stone's a healthy weight - providing she's over 6 feet tall.

[Sqad]

Eating less and especially carbohydrates will enable one to lose weight.....up to a point..
Exercise alone is an inefficient way of losing weight.
A combination of the above is just a perfect way to lose weight.....that is if you want to -;)
Despite following the recommendations given above, some people just don't lose it and the boffins have no explanation for this phenomenon.

[LadyCG]

What the subject may have is what the late Dr Atkins described as "high metabolic resistance to weight loss" and therefore the only way she would achieve weight reduction would be to go into ketosis (fat burning). She will only do that by scrapping carbs.

[pat2604]

Genetics do play a part, as do age,height an body sructure. And canary is right if she is very tall then 13stone is not particularly overweight. I eat less than half the amount I used to eat when younger, don't drink and don't eat between meals. I would like to lose a stone but I simply can't. I presume it's because I can't exercise. I keep hearing of people being told they are pre diabetic. I think it's the latest fad of GPs!! If she feels healthy, then I wouldn't worry, and to be honest it's up to her to worry not you.

[puzzled54]

There are some people who seem to eat a lot and stay slim without trying. Maybe this is the reverse.

[woofgang]

I know a family with two children close together in age. The family diet is generally healthy and neither child eats excessively. Both children swim and do various sports. One child is like a whippet and the other is not. Same doc sees both kids and says both are healthy as horses, just different.