Remember when the quintessential big screen body transformation belonged to Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull? These days, it seems like any actor worth his weight in awards statuette gold commits to a role that requires an extreme physical makeover. For some, it's about look-at-my-muscles machismo, while others go for ego-shedding emaciation, or full-on fatness.
The good news for these guys is that studies have shown that weight cycling – aka yo-yo dieting – doesn't necessarily alter a person's body composition over time. But the bad news is that it can damage blood vessels and increase a person's risk of a heart attack. So does that mean a one-time weight shift for a role is less dangerous than making a career of it? "It's not healthy to artificially manipulate your body in this way, says Linda Bacon, author of Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight. "The more you do it, the more problematic it is."
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For anyone who has an underlying history (or even just an inherited risk) of medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, gaining a significant amount of weight for a role – even if it's only temporary – can be a dangerous pursuit, says Dr. Robert F. Kushner, clinical director at the Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity. Even without any predispositions, these guys are still putting themselves at risk for those medical conditions, not to mention high cholesterol or a fatty liver. And don't forget the cosmetic effects of gaining weight quickly: stretch marks.
Extreme weight loss, on the other hand, can result in low blood pressure and blood sugar, dehydration, decreased muscle mass, and compromised immunity. (One study found that moderate weight loss can affect a person's immunity, while another study concluded that high-intensity endurance exercise also can increase a person's chances of getting sick. A depletion of vitamins, minerals, and even carbs are to blame).
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Regardless of the direction the scale moves, Kushner says, "I would be shocked if these actors don't have someone with medical training or fitness training or nutritional training who is watching them very closely." Take a look at some of Hollywood's biggest shape-shifters, from those who tried it once, to the repeat offenders.
Chris Pratt (Lost and Gained Multiple Times): Hollywood Weight Loss
The Parks and Recreation star has reshaped his body several times over the past three years for the big screen. Deemed "too fat" after auditioning to play first baseman and catcher Scott Hatteberg in 2011's Moneyball, he eventually lost 30 pounds and secured the part. He then says he "ballooned" to around 280 pounds to play a "fat alcoholic" for the reunion flick 10 Years. The following year, he uncovered a Navy Seal-worthy six-pack for Zero Dark Thirty, but it didn't stay visible for long: He tipped the scales at 300 pounds for 2013's Delivery Man, in which he played a harried dad. ("You can watch this movie, you can see just how big a man can get when he truly lets himself go," he's said.) In August, he'll take up less space on screen in Guardians of the Galaxy, where his six-pack is back. We wouldn't expect less for a character called Star Lord.
The Bottom Line:
If Pratt wants to be able to continue to quickly bounce back from his weight gain cycles, he needs to be careful about how long he lets himself hover at his highest weight. "If an actor was asked to put on 40 pounds and keep it on for five years, he might find it's actually difficult to take the 40 pounds off. Studies suggest the body does adapt," says Kushner. "The reason why the actors are able to do it so successfully is because it's time-limited."