Can more than moderately underweight person sustain WFPB

[sustainli]

Jeff, Thanks for your excellent summaries on calorie density, the relevance of BMI and true targets, etc. I looked through many of your posts for healthy weight gain guidance. All great material. Thank you.

Asking for some clarity for those trying to gain weight AND protect their heart health.

Can you elaborate on any differences in weight gain recommendations for those specifically with heart health issues who want to gain weight but they are not sure how much added plant-fats to add back into their diet? Maybe due to a fast metabolism or lost muscle mass as they age, etc, but they know a WFPB low-fat diet is best for their heart. They are following Dr. McD guidance to add more calorie-dense foods to gain weight (ie more starches, beans, flour, and a little tofu) but are hesitant to add back in higher fat plant foods due to their heart history. They are still not gaining weight.

How much whole plant-food fat can be added to the diet to help with weight gain without tipping the balance with heart health? For example, avocadoes, nuts, seeds, olives? Is there a rough % or serving size for adding back in plant-based fats? Are some better than others? Should they just continue to add flour products like pasta and bread and not so much fat? Would some of the bean-based pastas be better/worse?

Thanks!

[JeffN]

Jeff, Thanks for your excellent summaries on calorie density, the relevance of BMI and true targets, etc. I looked through many of your posts for healthy weight gain guidance. All great material. Thank you.

Asking for some clarity for those trying to gain weight AND protect their heart health.

Can you elaborate on any differences in weight gain recommendations for those specifically with heart health issues who want to gain weight but they are not sure how much added plant-fats to add back into their diet? Maybe due to a fast metabolism or lost muscle mass as they age, etc, but they know a WFPB low-fat diet is best for their heart. They are following Dr. McD guidance to add more calorie-dense foods to gain weight (ie more starches, beans, flour, and a little tofu) but are hesitant to add back in higher fat plant foods due to their heart history. They are still not gaining weight.

How much whole plant-food fat can be added to the diet to help with weight gain without tipping the balance with heart health? For example, avocadoes, nuts, seeds, olives? Is there a rough % or serving size for adding back in plant-based fats? Are some better than others? Should they just continue to add flour products like pasta and bread and not so much fat? Would some of the bean-based pastas be better/worse?

Thanks!

It would depend on the person, their situation and their health but added lots of high fat foods is not necessary and may not be in their best interest.

In general, one could increase overall calorie density just by shifting the plate ratio from 50/50 upwards to 90/10, minimize the pre-load, and/or include a few more of the moderately calorie dense foods like tortillas, breads, etc etc

In Health
Jeff

[sustainli]

Jeff, can you further help to clarify ...

the reference to 90/10, do you mean less green and yellow vegetables and more potatoes, starches, beans, and/or grains? With some bread and pasta?

With a diet heavier in starches, what if someone gets too full before eating enough calories to gain weight? Would more frequent meals help?

Dr McDougall has also mentioned the benefits of sometimes adding some simple sugars like dried fruit. If that would help, what would be the upper limit?

I appreciate some more direction, thank you!