A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I love my boyfriend of nearly 3 years dearly, but i am becoming very worried about his health. Since ive known him, he has always only eaten junk food. Even before we met, he had always eaten junk food and nothing else- he is 27 now- and im worred that 27 years of eating absolutely no veg or fruit will some how take its toll. He drinks regulary too. I have brought this up with him so many times, and he just says that he will never eat veg or fruit no matter what. Im shocked that his mother wasnt strict with him when he was growing up - or being concerned about his health!? I dont live with him and he still lives at home with his mother, yet it seems that she hasnt even tried to encourage him to eat healthily, let alone tell him the risks if he doesnt. The thing is, his mother and younger brother eat healthily and he doesnt. they seem to think its a joke? There seems to be no way that i can get him to change this habit and its really worrying me that something will happen to him or his health. He is fit, and does a bit of exercising, but he has a beer belly. Im so worried about his health. I just wish he ate just a bit healthy and showed that he does care abou this health! please could someone give me some advice on what to do!? xxxxx
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female
reader, Susan Strict +, writes (28 June 2008):
 If he doesn't eat ANY veg or fruit, what does he eat? You say "junk food", but that covers a wide range - and one person's perception of what is junk food doesn't necessarily coincide with another's.
Of course healthy eating is important. Of course you can't expect to be healthy on a diet consisting entirely of, for example, burgers and fizzy drink. But just because food is highly processed and has various preservatives and/or additives doesn't necessarily make it bad for you; some is, some isn't, some is just as good for you as fresh and "natural" food - but it's far more difficult to work out whether what you're eating really contains what you need or what you really don't. At least with fresh stuff you stand more chance of knowing where you are.
What matters more than anything with diet is to eat a variety of foods. If he's 27 and fit, and not displaying any other unpleasant symptoms, then it seems unlikely that his diet is quite as bad as you think. Take a closer look at what he does actually eat, and of course encourage him to eat as healthily as possible - but don't get hung up over it.
A
female
reader, duskyrowe +, writes (28 June 2008):
 Emilys answers is absolutely spot on. He is also at risk of getting bowel cancer too, with all the junk food your fella has consumed over the years. Poor diets can make you sluggish, develop diabetes and all sorts of health problems.
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A
female
reader, hlskitten +, writes (28 June 2008):
 Hi
I have a 13 yr old son pretty much the same! But your guy is 27, what you want his mum to do? Force feed him???? I hate the fact my son eats rubbish (he does eat bananas and apples though) But its not that as mum's we dont worry or care, we do. And i wouldn't mind betting his mum is worried. She has probably been trying for the last 27 yrs to get him to eat healthily. You've only just come along. You've not seen his upbringing.
I and our doctors are hoping my son will grow out of the phase he is going through where food is concerned, because as a toddler he would eat anything. His is a bit more of a phobia, where he wants to try new things, but is scared to.
But i dont think nagging your guy is going to make any difference. I think its you who needs to decide if you can live with it or not. Afterall, the guy is 27 not 7. And its a well known fact you shouldn't try to change someone if they are not interested. I assume he isn't stupid, and knows he is shortening his life doing this in the long term? If he's a smoker too, he's definately onto a loser!
Can you live with it or not?
C xxxxx
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A
female
reader, Emilysanswers +, writes (28 June 2008):
Wow, he sounds about 12.
Why not leave some print outs around his bedroom for him to find and look at.
Rotting feet with gangrene in them are always good for a start. Diabetes can cause that to happen. Or some lovely scervy skin rashes that you get from lack of vitamins.
The other thing you can do is tell him you are not interested in a short term only relationship. Tell him you are looking for someone you can marry and bring up kids with. If he says that he could be him, then point out that he's probably going to be infertile from his diet and will be dead by the time he's 30 from heart disease or similar. Tell him you don't want to be a widow and single mum that young.
It might scare him into doing something - even if it's just eating the odd banana or taking muli-vitamins, it's a start.
Good Luck!! xx
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