TikToker sets out to prove he can lose weight by eating 'nothing but McDonald's' for 100 days
The words 'weight loss' and 'fast food' are not often seen in the same sentence, but one US man is out to prove eating only Macca's for 100 days will help him lose weight.
On February 21, TikToker Kevin Maginnis, 56, decided it was "absolutely unacceptable" that he weighed in at 238 pounds (108kg).
The Nashville man told his viewers he wanted to show that it wasn't what you eat, but how much you eat, that contributes to weight loss.
After eating McDonald's three times a day, cutting the meals in half, Maginnis told viewers on March 2 he had dropped 12.5 pounds (5.6kg).
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Breakfast for Maginnis was half a sausage, egg and cheese muffin, half a hashbrown and half an apple pie on day nine. TikTok
In his day nine video, Maginnis is seen dividing his breakfast, which included a muffin with sausage, egg and cheese as well as a hashbrown and apple pie, in half.
Watch the video above.
The ultimate question is, does this actually work – and even if it does, is it a good idea?
"The thing is that, yes, if you create a calorie deficit to what you normally eat, you will lose weight regardless of the foods you choose," dietitian Effie Carbonne tells 9Honey Coach.
However, in the meantime your body will be lacking the nutrients it needs to properly function.
"It's not only about the total calories of the food," Carbonne says.
"It's making sure you are getting the right amount of foods across the food groups as they'll provide all the nutrients you need."
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The food pyramid has long been used as a guide for food groups to eat. iStockphoto
According to the Department of Health, Australians should be eating a variety of foods from all five food groups.
This includes five serves of vegetables and or legumes or beans, four to six servings of grain (cereal foods), two servings of fruit, two and a half to three servings of protein and two and a half to four servings of dairy/alternatives per day.
You don't need to eat from every food group at every meal, but over the course of the day.
There are health risks that come with not feeding the body the right types of foods.
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Eating too much of the foods with high saturated fats and salt can increase the risk of cardiovascular ill health. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Speaking about his unconventional Macca's weight loss method, Kevin Maginnis told Today, "The idea of restricting calories, anytime I've lost weight in my life has always been [tied to that method]. I actually was a wrestler, I boxed in the military. So there [are] times you have to make weight and you cut calories."
He added, "I've had cardiologists that love it, and I've had cardiologists that hate it."
"We have to be aware that processed foods tend to be very high in salt and saturated fats that can increase the risk of cardiovascular ill health," Carbonne tells 9Honey Coach.
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Overall, she says it is not all about the weight and calories, it is about the variety of food that we eat and making sure we feed our bodies the right foods.
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