This message is intended for your friend in trouble, and I will not go into a discussion on diet. There is a separate forum for diet & related discussions.
How much does your friend weigh? You might tell him how successful people are at losing weight while on the Paleo Diet. Show him this link: http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/
Wheat and grain products including artificial oils & sweets are not only a major factor toward obesity in most people, but also are responsible for a Pandoras Box of additional disease including diabetes. My son lost upwards of 65 lbs, our real estate agent lost 100 lbs by simply giving up bread & cereals. Modern wheat is used in making all bread, pastries, etc, and is a Genetically-Modified-Organisms Poison as described in the above link. Modern wheat is Frankenstein Monster created by Mad scientists in Monsanto's labs. DON'T EAT BREAD MADE WITH WHEAT!