Causes of thinness and steps to treat it

Reasons for being thin

Many people who are underweight are in good health. Low weight may be due to a variety of reasons, including the following:

genetic factor If a person has been thin since puberty, and this thinness is present among some members of his family, it is possible that his body’s metabolic rate is higher than the usual rate, and his appetite may be naturally low and unsatisfactory, which causes thinness.
High physical activity Frequent and intense exercise can affect weight. High physical activity may be part of a job with high activity and movement. A person may also be active and a lot of movement. For example: A person who stands on his feet and moves a lot may consume more calories than a person who is more sedentary. .
Having a physical illness or chronic illness: Some diseases that cause nausea, vomiting, or persistent diarrhea can make it difficult to gain weight. Other health conditions may also lead to a decrease in appetite, so that the person does not feel like eating.

Among the diseases that cause thinness: a condition called hyperthyroidism, which causes high metabolic rates, which causes unhealthy weight loss, and wheat allergy. Or what is known as celiac disease (in English: Celiac disease); It is the most severe form of gluten intolerance, in addition to patients with diabetes, especially type 1, cancer, and digestive disorders. Such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Suffering from mental illness Mental health disorders can affect a person's ability to eat, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders, which we will explain later in a separate point.
Take some medicines: Some prescription or over-the-counter medications can cause nausea, weight loss, or decreased appetite that may eventually lead to weight loss. Some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also cause loss of appetite and worsen the problem of loss of appetite. Weight caused by cancer.
eating disorders Eating disorders can affect a person's appetite, perception and impression of the body. A person's fears and distorted mental image of his body can lead to eating disorders, and this may lead to weight problems and nutritional deficiencies. A person may have an eating disorder if he feels... With anxiety and worry when thinking about food, or feeling that stress and low self-esteem affect the way he eats. Examples of these disorders include: Anorexia nervosa (in English: Anorexia nervosa), which is characterized by a person avoiding eating, severely restricting his food intake, or eating only very small amounts of specific foods. The person may perceive that he is overweight even when he is underweight. Dangerous in weight, eating disorders are accompanied by some symptoms, and when they are noticed, the person must be encouraged by his friends and family members to seek professional help, as these disorders need to be reviewed by specialists, and the following is a mention of some of the symptoms associated with eating disorders:
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss.
- Refusing to attend family or social events.
- Manifestations of fatigue and exhaustion on the person.
- Refusing to eat in front of others.
smoking: Smoking can suppress appetite, making smokers more likely to be underweight.

Steps to get rid of thinness

Although thinness can often be healthy and natural, weight loss may be a source of concern if it is caused by poor nutrition, or if the woman is pregnant, or if the person has other health concerns, so it is recommended to consult a doctor. Or a nutritionist to conduct an evaluation and plan how to achieve the target weight. Below is an explanation of the steps for treating thinness.

Diet

Consuming more calories than the body burns is one of the most important things for gaining weight. If you want to gain weight slowly and steadily, it is recommended to add 300-500 calories to the daily calorie needs, but if you want to gain weight quickly, it is recommended to increase 700-1000. calories to the body's daily caloric needs, and in general; It is recommended to follow a healthy diet consisting of the following:

Eating frequently: An underweight person may feel full faster compared to others, so it is recommended to eat 5-6 small meals during the day instead of two or three large meals. Eating may also not be attractive to people with poor appetite caused by health or emotional problems. In this case, it is recommended to eat small and frequent meals throughout the day to increase the amount of calories consumed.
Choose foods rich in nutrients: As part of an overall healthy diet, it is recommended to choose whole grains, whole grain breads and pastas, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean protein sources, nuts, and seeds.
Choose healthy, high-calorie drinks: It is recommended to drink whole milk, juices, and cocktails containing full-fat dairy products with fresh fruits and vegetables, as these options provide the body with calories in addition to nutrients, unlike other drinks, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Avoid ready-made and fast foods: It is recommended to avoid relying on high-calorie foods full of saturated fats and sugar to gain weight, such as: chocolate, cakes, and sugary drinks, as they can lead to an increase in fat mass instead of fat-free body mass, and may also increase the risk of high blood cholesterol levels. .
Other diet tips: It is recommended to rely on regular meals, and occasional snacks, and include the following in the diet:
- Eat at least 5 servings of various fruits and vegetables daily.
- Include potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, or another source of carbohydrates in your diet, and it is recommended to choose whole grains as much as possible.
- Include full-fat milk products in the diet.
- Include sources of proteins, such as legumes, fish, meat, and eggs, and try to eat two servings of fish every week, and one serving should come from oily fish, such as salmon and mackerel.
- Choose unsaturated oils, such as sunflower oil or rapeseed oil, and consume them in small quantities.
- Drink plenty of fluids, as it is recommended to drink 6-8 cups a day, but you should not drink fluids immediately before meals, in order to avoid feeling very full when eating.
- Try to reduce your intake of foods and drinks rich in fat, salt, and sugar.

Nutritional supplements

If a person cannot reach the goal of gaining weight through food; Oral nutritional supplements may be an option. Supplements with various flavors are available in the market, designed to provide proteins, vitamins, and calories. It is worth noting that nutritional supplements should only be given to people who have undergone a full evaluation and have been found to be malnourished, so the patient must be referred. If someone is underweight, he or she should go to a nutritionist to advise whether nutritional supplements are necessary and appropriate for his condition, and the person may only need to take them for a few weeks.

Physical activity

People who are thin or who are trying to reduce their weight loss may feel anxious about exercising, and in these cases it is usually recommended to seek professional help to determine whether physical activity is safe based on personal health needs. Exercise may not be recommended if being underweight is linked to eating disorders. However, adding physical activity to your daily routine provides many benefits, such as improving muscle strength and balance, boosting energy, improving mood, and increasing appetite. Exercise guidelines for weight loss may include a combination of strength exercises, stretching exercises, and low-intensity aerobic activity.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has indicated that it is best to avoid high-intensity aerobic activities for people who are underweight, as this type of exercise may lead to burning a lot of calories, which makes it more difficult to maintain weight. Or increase it, but rather focus on strength exercises, such as lifting weights and yoga, to help the body build muscle mass.

General Tips

Here are some general tips to help gain weight:

Quit Smoking: People who smoke tend to weigh less than non-smokers, and quitting smoking often leads to weight gain.
Get enough sleep Adequate and good sleep is an essential element for muscle growth.
Continue and follow upIt is difficult to get rid of old eating habits easily, and it may be difficult to remember all the foods eaten on a daily basis, so a daily food diary can help clarify the times and meals that may need adjustments, and it also helps the nutritionist to ensure that the person gets the nutrients. Correct and adequate nutrition.
Eating with family and friends: Eating with friends or family, and making mealtimes as social as possible, can help people who find it difficult to pay attention to food, or who have lost the motivation to eat, to eat more.
Scheduling meal times: Feeling hungry indicates the need to eat. However, if a person does not feel hungry, he may not be able to rely on his appetite to remind him of eating times. In this case, it is recommended to schedule meals and set reminders for all meal times to ensure that he eats regularly. In addition to that, Having a regular meal schedule is important to stimulate appetite, which helps you consume enough calories and nutrients on a daily basis.

Diagnosis of thinness

Thinness occurs when the body weight is less than the healthy weight range in which the body functions properly, and the body’s health can be greatly affected when the weight is outside the healthy range, whether as a result of weight gain or loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in English) has recommended : CDC) using the body mass index (in English: BMI) to determine whether a person is thin, has a healthy weight, or whether he is overweight. The BMI can be calculated by using the following equation:

The dangers of being thin

Being overweight also causes health problems. Being underweight can cause many health problems. A thin person may not get enough nutrients to build healthy bones, skin, and hair. The following is an explanation of some of the health risks associated with being underweight or malnourished:

Malnutrition: (in English: malnutrition); Weight loss can occur if you do not eat a sufficient amount of healthy foods that contain essential nutrients to nourish the body, and this may lead to malnutrition, and over time malnutrition can affect health in different ways and symptoms that may be noticeable to the person, It can lead to anemia, deficiency of essential vitamins, and possible symptoms of malnutrition, including the following:
- Feeling tired and drained of energy.
- Frequently getting sick, or having difficulty resisting diseases.
- Hair weakness and loss, dry skin, and dental problems.
- Slow healing of wounds, such as wounds after operations.
- Osteoporosis.
- Arrhythmia.
- High risk of heart attacks.
- Lack or cessation of menstruation.

infertility: Women's risk of amenorrhea and other menstrual irregularities increases when their body mass index is very low. Irregular or missed menstrual cycles may be an indication of anovulation, or the absence of ovulation. The risk of chronic anovulation may increase from The risk of infertility, so an underweight woman who is trying to get pregnant and give birth must speak to a doctor to conduct the necessary blood tests to ensure the safety and regularity of the ovulation period, in addition to tests for other signs of infertility.
Pregnancy-related problems: Such as difficulty getting pregnant, or increasing the risk of premature birth, the doctor may recommend reaching a healthy weight before pregnancy occurs, as being underweight during pregnancy can pose multiple risks to the fetus, so it is necessary to maintain a healthy and normal weight during pregnancy.
Weak immune system: The body may not be able to store enough energy in very thin people as a result of malnutrition, which makes fighting infections more difficult for the body. The immune system may not function fully when the weight is below the normal range, which increases the risk of infection.
Osteoporosis: The risk of osteoporosis and bone loss may increase in people who are underweight, partly due to a possible deficiency in vitamin D and calcium. It is worth noting that the less weight and the closer it approaches normal weight, the less stress the bones are exposed to, which helps to strengthen them and protect them from deterioration. Therefore, one should not be overweight to maintain bone health.

Thinness in children

The problem of thinness in children is often attributed to several reasons, including: premature birth, and in this case attention must be paid to his growth so that it is close to the growth of his age peers. The common reason for weight loss in older children is not eating enough, and the child may suffer From the problem of selective eating, many medical problems may also play a role in children’s thinness, such as problems that can cause suppression of appetite, or prevent the body from absorbing nutrients.

To reduce the problem of thinness, the foods chosen for children must be rich in nutrients, and also rich in energy, and not just high-calorie foods. The selected foods must contain a good amount of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and other nutritional elements, such as: milk and its derivatives, fruits, and vegetables.