Being drastically underweight can lead to many problems in social life as well a significant increase in health problems & low self esteem.
Some lean people want to put weight on to boost their self esteem, improve their self image, and get stronger to do a better job at work or in athletic competitions. There are also significant health considerations beyond these types of motivations.
Having a BMI between 20 – 25 is healthy while BMI below 18.5 is generally considered to be underweight & unhealthy.
To gain healthy weight it is important to seek expert advice. It is team work of doctor & nutritionist.
Many medical conditions can make it hard to gain weight & can lead to unhealthy weight loss in a formerly fit person. Some common causes are -
Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid can increase your metabolic rate, making it hard to keep weight on.
Diabetes: While diabetes is more common in overweight people than underweight people, uncontrolled type 1 diabetes can lead to weight loss issues.
Infections: frequent acute infections, Parasites, HIV/AIDS. tuberculosis & other infectious diseases can cause the body to spend much of its energy fighting off these diseases. Antibiotics & other medicines also disturbs normal digestion & absorption of nutrients from food.
Celiac disease: This autoimmune disease destroys villi of the small intestine when people who have it consume gluten. Most people who have this are unaware of their gluten intolerance.
Eating Disorders: Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are potentially life-threatening mental disorders.
Cancer: cancerous tumours can burn a significant amount of energy.
If your body weight changes drastically without any change in calorie consumption or exercise routine you should seek medical analysis so a doctor can ensure you do not suffer from one of the above conditions.
Psychotropic Drugs: Some of such drugs can lead to weight gain in some people, they can also lead to weight loss in others. And if they lead to significant mood changes, they can also have an impact on the partner or parent or child of a person who is taking such a drug.
Depression, Stress & Anxiety: Some people eat to relieve stress & anxiety. Rising cortisol levels can increase appetite. Others feel so devastated they can't eat. And, once again, drugs to treat these sorts of conditions like Cymbalta also come up on searches related to unexplained changes in weight.
Healthy Weight gain – difficult but not impossible:
Nutritionist can help in healthy weight gain. First evaluating cause of weight loss, diagnosing any underlying health problem, correcting calories intake, planning meal pattern & suggesting lifestyle changes. You may need doctor’s opinion & treatment for any underlying health problem. It is slow but steady process but you must be patient & consistant in diet for best results.
Once you get to the desired body weight, you can eat the maintaining calories & not eat the additional calories which were required to keep gaining weight.
Make sure you are eating the right kind of calories.
Many of the cheapest calories are also the most addictive and least healthy.
Refined carbohydrates ie. eating chips & donuts while drinking soda can lead to a rapid deterioration of health and the weight gain going to belly area, which is linked to increased risk of heart disease & type 2 diabetes.
Carbohydrates act as fast fuel. The body can store excess calories in fat but the body, but it can not convert carbohydrates into proteins.
Processed junk foods can help you put on belly fat rather than lean muscle mass.
The body uses protein to build lean muscle mass. So if you want to eat more calories to put on healthy weight, it can be a good idea to eat a diet rich in proteins.
Some of the most popular calorie-dense & protein-rich foods include:
Nuts: peanuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds or even foods like peanut butter.
Meats: Fattier cuts of beef, pork, chicken & other meats including salmon & other oily fish. Whole eggs are also a fantastic source of protein.
Some people also supplement their meals with high protein shakes.
Fats
The following are all big winners for those looking to gain healthy weight:
High-fat dairy foods: Milk, cheeses, creams, full-fat yogurt.
Oils: Avocado oil & extra virgin olive oil.
Meats: Go for the fattier cuts when you get a choice.
