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How fast did Joaquin Phoenix lose weight?

insider.com - Joaquin Phoenix 'Joker' Weight Loss Involved Eating Disorder Symptoms

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Actor Joaquin Phoenix reportedly lost 52 pounds in a few months to play the title role in "Joker," giving himself an emaciated look as well as disturbing psychological symptoms. Though Phoenix was under medical supervision, losing that much weight in just a few months is extreme and dangerous, an expert told Insider. Phoenix's reported feelings of fatigue, social isolation, and obsessiveness about food and weight are all alarming symptoms of eating disorders. Anyone experiencing similar symptoms should seek help immediately before the problem becomes chronic or even life-threatening.

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Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Joaquin Phoenix has long had a reputation for method acting, but his work for "Joker" has taken the job to a new extreme. The actor reportedly lost 52 pounds to play the title character, which he said did a lot more than give him a disturbing gaunt look — it also derailed his mental health. "As it turns out, [extreme weight loss] impacts your psychology, and you really start to go mad when you lose that much weight in that amount of time," he said, according to People. Read more: Jason Momoa is set to guest star on 'The Simpsons,' and his animated character looks ripped like him. Experts share what it takes to make a six pack 'pop.' Phoenix said in interviews the severe weight loss may have given him "a disorder," making him obsessive about food and weight, causing him to withdraw from social events and interactions, and leaving him nearly too fatigued to climb stairs. An expert told Insider those symptoms are all signs of a serious, even life-threatening, eating disorder.

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Safely losing 52 pounds would typically take at least a year

For safety reasons, Phoenix, who was under medical supervision, didn't share the exact method he used to lose the weight. But shedding 52 pounds in mere months — his official acceptance of the role was announced in July 2018 and he began filming in September 2018 — is extreme. No one should attempt to replicate it, Charlotte Markey, a psychology professor at Rutger's University who has studied eating disorders, told Insider. "It's problematic for anyone to be expected to lose this much weight this quickly. It's going to be unhealthy physically and psychologically," she said. The most someone could safely lose is about a pound a week, she said. Obsessively thinking about weight and avoiding social interactions are eating disorder red flags Phoenix said he would regularly weigh himself and agonize over the results as a measure of his success at reaching his goals. "Like so much of what's difficult is waking up every day and being obsessed over like 0.3 pounds. Right? And you really develop like a disorder. I mean, it's wild," he told the Associated Press. Markey said frequently weighing yourself and becoming obsessive about the results is a warning sign of serious disordered eating. "Any time you're spending that much time on the scale or having that strong of an emotional response to what you're seeing, that's a red flag," she said. Not to mention, worrying about a fraction of a pound or even a few pounds is misguided, since it's normal for weight to fluctuate on a daily or hourly basis based on factors like what you've eaten so far, if you're dehydrated, and how much activity you've done, Markey added. Phoenix said sticking to his strict diet also forced him to plan even social interactions around his eating, which alienated him from friends. Markey said that, too, is a common symptom of eating disorders. "When food starts taking up a lot of mental space, when you start making plans around what you're eating or not eating, those are signs," she said. Phoenix also said in interviews that simple tasks, like walking up stairs, became almost unbearable during filming. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and struggling with physical activity can be side effects of severe weight loss or disordered eating. Others include feeling constantly cold, or sleeping too much or too little.

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Eating disorders can be life-threatening

Regardless of the symptoms, eating disorders can be extremely dangerous, even if they haven't caused obvious weight loss. Often it's a heart attack or other invisible cardiovascular problem that makes an eating disorder fatal, Markey said. "It's not possible to predict at what point it becomes life-threatening, so anyone struggling with this should get some kind of help right away. It's better to be safe than sorry," she said. And if you notice symptoms in someone else, it's worth checking in. Markey recommended approaching the conversation from a calm emotional state, and emphasizing support and concern. Although the conversation can be difficult, it could also be life-saving. "It can be awkward. We're so used to praising weight loss so if that's what's triggering concern, it can feel strange," Markey said. Online resources like the National Eating Disorders Association can connect people with counseling and other professional assistance. NEDA also has a Helpline (1-800-931-2237) and, in crisis situations, you can text "NEDA" to 741-741. Will Smith says he fasted for 10 days and no longer needed a blood-pressure medication he'd been taking for a decade A 25-year-old may go blind after eating nothing but pizza, pasta, fries, and chicken nuggets for 22 years

insider.com - Joaquin Phoenix 'Joker' Weight Loss Involved Eating Disorder Symptoms

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