Dave Bautista Denies Claim He Is Starving Himself Amid Weight Loss

Dave Bautista has denied rumors that his 75-pound weight loss is due to starvation, clarifying that he used intermittent fasting and calorie restriction.

The 55-year-old actor, who now weighs 240 pounds, emphasized the health benefits of his transformation and addressed concerns about his size.

Dave Bautista’s weight loss comes as he begins to take on more roles in romantic comedy movies, with several projects in development after expressing interest in the genre.

In a candid interview on “Insight With Chris Van Vliet,” Bautista set the record straight on his recent 75-pound weight loss, denying rumors that he’s been “starving” himself.

The former wrestler revealed that after filming “Knock at the Cabin,” he found himself weighing 315 pounds, a weight he quickly gained but felt was too much.

Bautista turned to intermittent fasting and calorie restriction to shed the excess, consuming just around 2,500 calories per day during a limited eating window.

“I’m just not eating much. And I’m not starving or anything,” Bautista emphasized,  explaining that it took him “forever to shed” the weight.

Reflecting on his weight loss journey, the Marvel actor shared: “I noticed the more I trimmed down, the better I felt. And I also noticed the more I trimmed down, the better I looked on camera, the better I look next to other actors.”

According to the Daily Mail, to get to his new weight, Bautista fasted until at least 1 p.m. and ate primarily vegetarian food with the addition of eggs and fish for protein. His last meal was at least three hours before going to bed.

Bautista noted that his weight loss has left people shocked, thinking he has become abnormally thin.

“People say, ‘God, you’re skinny,'” he said. “I’ve even seen online, some people worried about my health. And when I say it out loud, ‘I’m 6’4″ 240 pounds,’ which sounds like I’m a big person.”

The 55-year-old added: “People have seen me so much bigger over the years that they think I’m like anorexic, but I’m still just a large human being next to your typical actor. It looks like a gorilla and it’s distracting.”

Bautista also mentioned he’s still working on shedding a few more pounds and remains committed to training hard and watching his calorie intake.

In an October 2021 interview with Men’s Health, Bautista discussed his diet, explaining that he’s “terribly allergic to dairy” and primarily eats plant-based foods, along with eggs and occasional servings of fish.

His workout routine includes jiu-jitsu and boxing, which keep him in top shape.

Bautista first surprised fans with his remarkable weight loss when he hit the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

Social media reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with one X user commenting, “The fact that he’s lost muscle in seemingly a healthy way is actually a massive accomplishment.”

Another noted, “As long as he’s healthy and happy is all that matters!”

“Dave is an inspiration to me in terms of learning and development through his adult years. Man completely remade himself multiple times. He can do it all, he can learn it all,” a third person commented.

However, some speculated that the former professional wrestler might be using Ozempic, a claim he hasn’t confirmed or denied.

In January 2023, Bautista revealed to Page Six that he had always wanted to star in a romantic comedy but had never been given the chance.

He jokingly asked, “Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?”

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter a year later at the premiere of “The Killer’s Game,” Bautista shared that his remarks sparked a lot of interest.

“I said that, and the phone started ringing right away. Now, we’ve got a couple of really funny projects in development,” Bautista explained, adding that he’s finally “making my way there, like a full-on rom-com. Not like an action rom-com, a full-on rom-com.”

His latest film, “The Killer’s Game,” sees Bautista playing an assassin with a terminal illness who mistakenly orders a hit on himself, only to discover he’s been misdiagnosed.

Reflecting on this new challenge, Bautista admitted, “It was nerve-racking for me; I’m hoping people receive it well, still a little self-conscious about it. It was a challenge that I wanted, I accepted.”

The actor has previously opened up about his troubled upbringing, which led to several jail stints.

Bautista grew up in the more dangerous areas around Washington, DC, and had to witness several disturbing scenes as a young boy.

In his memoir, he narrated how he and his sister, alongside some other children in the neighborhood, witnessed a shooting victim die in front of his home.

The actor noted that they were “all standing around looking at this poor guy who was dying,” adding that he thought “some of us were even telling jokes.”

“By the time I was 13, I started getting in a lot more trouble for skipping school. I also got arrested for petty stuff. I’d get detention or juvenile hall, but the punishment wasn’t severe; I never spent more than a day in jail,” Bautista said of his upbringing.