Is 600 calories a day healthy?

I am 14 years old, 5 foot 2, and weigh 39kg (about 6 stone 2?).

I'm currently eating around 600 calories a day, and am gradually losing weight, but I'm worried that this is bad for my body, and will eventually cause me to gain weight. is this true?

I'm a very fussy eater. what would be the best foods for me to eat, and amount of calories, to either maintain my current weight or slowly lose some weight?

Yes, if you eat too far below your BMR then your metabolism will slow down. Your body will destroy muscle to survive and muscle burns more calories than fat.

Based on the numbers you provided, your BMR is 1250 calories -- you shouldn't eat less than that in any day. If you're sedentary, you're burning 1500 calories a day so if you eat 1250, you'll be burning 250 calories a day or .5lb every week. Obviously the 1500 number goes up if you add exercise.

Aside from that, this diet is absolutely unhealthy. At your age, your body is still growing and you need to be eating enough food for that. Not to sound too judgmental but why are you even trying to lose weight? My sister is the same height as you and weighs 15 more pounds. I can't imagine how bony she'd be if she lost 15 pounds, let alone more than that.

Ultimately, it sounds like you're in a situation where your family doctor needs to be consulted. They (or a nutritionist) can help you set calories and weight goals that are appropriate for your age and body type.

Seriously girl. If you are 6 stone at your height and age, you're waaaay too thin. I'm surprised you're not in hospital. And as healsdata said above, your eating about half of what is even minimally healthy. You need to eat a lot more to just avoid serious physical damage. Eat more. Even if you're not hungry, make yourself do it. No excuses. Make sure you get lots of protein foods (meat, fish, eggs, milk) and fruits and vegetables I was anorexic when I was younger, and I know how dangerous this cycle can be.

Great advice above, it's good that at your young age you are taking action and control now.
It's definitely too low, bmr is a great daily calorie goal.

If i ate the aforementioned amount would i gain weight, or stay at my current weight? also, what types of food should i eat (bearing in mind my fussy eating, and preference for bland foods) to ensure that i don't gain any fat?

I'm not on any kind of diet especially, i just want to stay thin, and am therefore keeping snacks to a minimum, eating smaller meals, calorie counting and doing a fair amount of excersize. Is this not the right way to go about keeping a slim figure?

You can do a lot of damage to your growing body eating that way at your age. Permanent damage that you will regret when you're older. I'm not sure you really need to lose any weight. You would have to consult a doctor about what a healthy weight is for someone your age and height. But also understand that a woman's body goes through a lot of changes during puberty and some of them will result in completely natural weight gain. So it is completely normal to notice some changes in your body. It certainly doesn't mean you're getting fat or anything.

I really wish I had taken this advice when I was younger. A lot of people on this site were once just like you- a relatively normal weight but we thought we needed to lose some. So we started dieting. And because we dieted so much, we killed our metabolisms and a lot of us eventually gained a lot of weight. If only we had just let our bodies develop naturally, I think a lot of us never would have become obese. If I could go back and give 14 year old me ONE piece of advice it would be never to start dieting. When I became unhappy with my weight, I wish I would have taken up a sport or other physical activity. I could have saved myself years of pain and frustration.

Hope you make the choices a lot of us didn't make and don't have to go through all that! Good luck.

the best thing to do is talk to your doctor.

At 6 stone, you are beyond thin. More like concentration camp starvation thin. Please don't do this to yourself. I went anorexic when I was young, and I have permanent heart problems because of this. It's a bad place to be. Take care of you body. Take care of yourself. You should see a doctor or at least a dietician.

This may sound counter intuitive, but instead of trying to get super thin, think about building a little athleticism. A lot of figure nitpicking at the low weights seems to comes from thinking this or that is too jiggly. If you diet super strictly you lose muscle and you may seem less firm when you look at yourself. Check out the girl lifeguards at the pool. I'd much rather look like that than a runway model. Maybe that's just me, but I'd tend to think it's a healthier lifestyle too.

The short answer is, "YES, 600 calories is not enough. It's downright dangerous." Please take all of the advice that has been given above and definitely see a doctor and nutritionist. All of the people above KNOW what they're talking about. Actually, Russell has written a very healthy book about weight. He's done the study.

Yes you must eat at least 1200 calories to be healthy and you will still lose weight. Otherwise your body will think it is starving itself and hold on to the fat.

~hugs,
Lori

My daughter is 14. she is 5 ft 6 in. and weighs 7 stones. ( 98 lbs.) Her doctor says shes at a healthy weight ( although..she is INDEED thin to me!!) The BMR charts are NOT accurate for adolescents. my daughters doctors agree that she should eat 1500 calories a day. I imagine that is a HEALTHY number for you as well.
Do you have a trusted adult you can talk to in regards to this? you do NOT need to lose weight. I agree with oddity, getting active will change your body and that will look better than losing weight!
GOOD LUCK!!

Yes. 600 calories isn't enough to live on for a day. At minimum it's 1200 just like everyone suggests yes.K8yk is right on point I know because done everything from not eating to stuffing my emotions. It just sends your body through a loop. Just take it easy give yourself a middle ground with some more nutrients and you will be fine.

Wish I had someone to tell me "skinny" doesn't equal happy or pretty or a perfect life.It doesn't even come close to healthy if your starving your body. At that time it felt that extreme(just my experience).Starving myself actually caused gains.

Think of it in terms of the more healthy equals more time to enjoy things you love. Don't worry so much unless you eat a lot of junk food.

As in weight i agree with the people above.

Ok, I am hoping you are understanding now that you do NOT need to lose weight...the healthier you eat in the right calorie count the better you will look AND feel!

So, with that said, I know your concern is in what you could and should be eating. If you like more bland type flavors, ask your mom if you can pick you up some Greek yogurt...lots of good and healthy protein for you. You may also enjoy a protein powder to make smoothies. My 8 yr old LOVES them and her doctors says that they are great for her to have in the morning. I make it for her with 1/2 cup of fat free milk, 1/2 cup frozen strawberries (or any fruit you like) and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. These two things are great ways to stay healthy with out feeling like you are eating too much

Good luck, please let us know if you need any other tips for a healthier you...we are all hear to help, but keep in mind that your parents and doctor should be your best resource!!!