I'm not being starved... I take care of myself': Matthew McConaughey defends his 40lb weight loss as he sparks concern with increasingly gaunt appearance

Incredibly shrinking man Matthew McConaughey seems to be getting smaller and smaller these days.

But the heartthrob is certain that he is not losing weight from starving himself.

Matthew, 42, was renowned for his hunky and well toned body, but looked gaunt on the set of his new movie The Dallas Buyers Club', on Wednesday.

Doing fine: A very skinny Matthew McConaughey said that he has been losing weight healthily and has not starved himself

Transformation: Matthew has lost an astonishing 40lbs for the role, compared to his muscular physique back in 2007

Speaking to the Daily Beast, Matthew said: 'I feel fine. I really do. I got the means to lose the weight in a really healthy way.

'I'm eating fresh fish. I'm just eating small amounts. I'm not being starved... I'm taking care of myself.'

McConaughey has dropped around 40lbs in body-weight but is adamant that his less than attractive physique has been achieved through a safe and strict diet.

Super size him: The actor was on set in New Orleans showing off the results of his strict diet

Pictured on set in New Orleans, America, he looked a shadow of his former self with his frame reduced to skin and bone.

He added: 'I've been checked. My levels are fine. I'm as healthy as can be.

'The real health challenge is when you put [the weight] back on...You can't just start eating cheeseburgers and ice cream. Your body will go into shock, and it just won't work.'

Dedicated method: Matthew went through the drastic change to portray the role of Ron Woodroof in The Dallas Buyers Club

Streamlined star: Matthew believes that the weightloss has helped him better understand his body as he has embarked on a spiritual journey

The soon to be father-of-three wowed audiences with his ridiculously pumped body in Magic Mike, earlier this year.

However, his recent transformation has left people concerned about his physical well being.

Matthew believes that the weight-loss has helped him better understand his body as he has embarked on a spiritual journey.

He told the Daily Beast: 'It's really been enlightening to understand my anatomy.

'I'm playing a guy who was sick and would have loved to have been healthier but wasn't.'

McConaughey plays the role of Ron Woodruff who smuggled life saving medicine into the United States, despite being diagnosed with diagnosed with full blown HIV/AIDS.