How do you react to MFP-friends, who eat way too few

On my profile I clearly state what my opinions are about eating below 1000 cals. consistently. I also state that if you are doing that, I will not be commenting on your diary that day - I really can't say good job, etc. if I don't feel that way. If the person is sick - not a problem. This way, I am not imposing my views on anyone, they know how I feel up front, and I don't feel obligated to make a ridiculous comment on something I don't agree with. Problem solved.

Mind your own business. If it upsets you or annoys you that much, delete them and add people with similar goals to you - that's what I do!

I'm divided on this... I think it would be nice to know someone was concerned if I was eating far too little, but at the same time, my MFP profile has recommended I have maximum 1,200 cals per day, so that is normal for me. I just have a lower BMR so need less to function, and therefore need less calories to lose weight (combined with a healthy balanced diet and exercise of course!)

As other people have mentioned, I think different people have different requirements, as some will struggle with energy on anything less than 2,500 cals (dependant on persons metabolic rate and height, weight, etc) but anything consistently sub 800 is a worry.

If you want to show you care, I agree with a healthy snack suggestion at first, then see how they react. I’d also consider putting it in a private message first in case it is a sensitive issue.

Just my opinion… :-)

I'm divided on this... I think it would be nice to know someone was concerned if I was eating far too little, but at the same time, my MFP profile has recommended I have maximum 1,200 cals per day, so that is normal for me. I just have a lower BMR so need less to function, and therefore need less calories to lose weight (combined with a healthy balanced diet and exercise of course!)

As other people have mentioned, I think different people have different requirements, as some will struggle with energy on anything less than 2,500 cals (dependant on persons metabolic rate and height, weight, etc) but anything consistently sub 800 is a worry.

If you want to show you care, I agree with a healthy snack suggestion at first, then see how they react. I’d also consider putting it in a private message first in case it is a sensitive issue.

Just my opinion… :-)

I like the private message idea.
I think try the approach I asking questions rather than lecturing.

Hmm, I do average between 850-1100 simply because at the moment I don't quite know WHAT to eat and I do not have more appetite!
Got some health issues, like Diabetes type 2 and living in the UK I am now almost 4 months waiting for the appointment with the dietician - it sucks! No matter how much I try to read upon...the more I read the more confused I get! Is not always a question of hitting the delete button...some people like me (hint hint lol) could need some serious help and pointers in the right direction to keep things going so that they can help themselves!
But I agree some others do think they need to starve themselves to skinny - that's definitely not the way to go!

Mind your own business. If it upsets you or annoys you that much, delete them and add people with similar goals to you - that's what I do!

I wont comment on anyone because Im too busy trying to concentrate on my own health. I have enough medical problems that I am actively focusing on myself and no one else.

On the flip side though, I do work in healthcare and completely aware of what is considered healthy and what isnt - but that does not give me a free ticket to go spamming people who willingly make bad choices. I simply wont associate with people who do that.

I wont voluntarily offer help without being prompted. As I mentioned earlier, I have enough involved on my own that, to be honest, I really dont want to lose focus on my current goals so Im here, for me. And, its paying off slowly and gradually, the way it was meant to be.

I did though get a friend-request on someone who wanted some recipe ideas. Hey, that is awesome! I love to help someone if I can to get out of a culinary rut. But, when I accepted them and took a look at their profile, they were willingly making the choice to eat 850 calories per day. I immediately removed them from my friends list. I did not send them a message on why. If they message me back asking why, then I will be honest with them and say " I would rather associate with like-minded people who make better choices than the ones you are willingly making for yourself. Im sorry but I will never advocate netting below 1200 and from what I see on your profile, you are actively and willingly making the choice to eat well below 1200 and I just cant be connected with someone like that - I wish you the best"...

I truly do wish them the best, but I sure dont want to be like them or anyone doing what they are doing when it is truly a medically compromising situation.

I see that in the medical cases that come through my department - and its over 300+ physicians. I sit back and wonder how the hell Im going to get services approved for patients who have willingly committed this type of damage to theirselves when, in the long term picture, its because of their poor choices. Sometimes its not an easy battle with the medical insurances.

I just found out about the friend system here on MFP. And I love it!

But now I got some friend requests where I don't know how to deal with their eating habits...

I never eat under 1500 kcal and up to about 2100 kcal. I even think about going further up with my intake. So I also added girls, who seem to have not so healthy eating habits, as I think I could be a good example for a fit girl, who likes to eat and has no problems maintaing her weight through healthy eating and exercising.

But when I view their completed diaries and see intakes below 800 kcal + exercising, I really feel bad! Do you just ignore this, or do you comment on such entries.

And if you are somebody, who is eating really low on calories, what do you think about comments on your food?

Another in the MYOB camp.

If someone is deliberately limiting themselves to <800 it's not because they don't know a healthy snack would take them up to 1200. It's because they want to limit themselves to <800 and a stranger on the internet telling them it isn't healthy isn't going to make a blind bit of difference. You might be coming from a place of concern, but it will more than likely be taken as criticism.

And, has been pointed out, someone who eats <1200 calories isn't necessarily starving themselves. Everyone has different needs and even different goals. It stands to reason we'd have different diets, too. You can't tell the whole story from a food diary.

Yesterday, I ate horribly. I had two rashers of bacon for breakfast, didn't eat anything during the day and then had a box of takeaway mushroom pakora for dinner. But I *know* I ate horribly. I also know *why* I ate horribly.

If someone I know had sent me a message asking me if I wanted to talk about it, I would see their concern. If a stranger messaged me telling me what to do, lecturing me to eat three meals a day, more protein, more veg and definitely no take-out, I would have politely told them to eff off.

If I have a friend who has ate way under their calories for the day I just don't comment.

I wouldn't want you trying to impose your view of what is right on me. Unless you know all the circumstances you don't know if their food intake is appropriate. For all I know you're a compulsive overeater who can't relate to someone with control over their appetite and criticising a low intake is a way to feel better about your own gluttony.

If you don't want people making comments though, make your diary private. The whole point of adding friends is to have other people in the same frame of mind as you who can spot your mistakes when you can't.

I don"t care if someone has too low of calories or even high for a certain day, I like to see what kinds of meals they prepare and get better ideas to change up my own vegetarian diet.

I have had ppl comment on my eating habits, to which they received a colorful message detailing exactly what they can do with their opinions. Why? Because what I eat and what I do aren't anybody on MFP's business. It is highly likely that someone only eating 500 cals a day isn't logging everything they eat, or are eating little for a reason. Mind your own business. Don't like it? Unfriend.