What Are The Risks Of Underweight

Being underweight can represent as many health concerns to an individual as being overweight can. If a person is underweight, their body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to build healthy bones, skin, and hair. While some people may have a genetic background or a medical illness that prevents them from putting on weight, there are interventions doctors can recommend to help a person gain weight.

Using the BMI is considered a good measure of a person’s weight because it compares their weight to their height. For example, a 170-pound person may not be overweight if they are very tall but could be overweight if they are very short.

 

Source: Ranges for BMI include

Underweight: less than 18.5

Normal/healthy weight: 18.5 to 24.9

Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9

Obese: 30 or higher.

 

These calculations may be slightly inaccurate for a person who is an elite or endurance athlete whose body has a significant amount of muscle. This is because muscle weighs more than fat.

 

Risks of Being Underweight:

Being underweight can cause health problems, just as being overweight can. Not all people who are underweight experience adverse side effects or symptoms from being underweight. However, some people, experience the following symptoms related to being underweight:

 

Osteoporosis:

According to a 2016 study trusted Source, being underweight increases a woman’s risk of osteoporosis, which is where the bones are brittle and more prone to breaking.

 

Skin, hair, or teeth problems. If a person does not get enough nutrients in their daily diet, they may display physical symptoms, such as thinning skin, hair loss, dry skin, or poor dental health.

 

Getting Sick Frequently:

If a person does not get enough energy from their diet to maintain healthy body weight, they may also not be getting enough nutrients to fight off infections. As a result, a person may get sick more frequently, and common illnesses, such as a cold, can last longer than they usually would.

 

Feeling Tired All The Time:

Calories are a measurement of the energy a particular food can give a person. Not getting enough calories to maintain a healthy weight can make a person feel fatigued.

 

Anemia:

A person who is underweight is more likely to have low blood counts, known as anemia, which causes dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.

 

Irregular Periods:

Women who are underweight may not have regular periods, they may find menstruation stops or an adolescent’s first period may be delayed or absent. Irregular or absent menstruation can cause infertility.

 

Premature Births:

According to a study published in An International Journal of Obstetrics & GynaecologyTrusted Source, a woman who is pregnant and underweight is at a higher risk for pre-term labor, which means having a baby before 37 weeks.

 

Slow or Impaired Growth:

Young people need nutrients to grow and develop healthy bones. Being underweight and not getting enough calories could mean a person may not develop as expected. Doctors call this a ‘failure to thrive.’ HealthTrusted Source, being underweight is associated with an increased risk for mortality when compared to people with an average BMI. The researchers suggested that being underweight may impair a person’s healing processes following an accident or trauma compared to a person with an average BMI.

 

A person can gain weight by following a healthful diet that incorporates nutritious calorie-dense foods. A doctor may recommend a person tries a specific diet for weight gain or refer them to a dietitian.

 

Some Key Components of a Diet For Weight Gain May Include

Adding snacks:

High-protein and whole-grain carbohydrate snacks can help a person gain weight. Examples include peanut butter crackers, protein bars n whey protein supplements, trail mix, pita chips, and hummus, or a handful of almonds.

 

Eating several small meals a day:

Sometimes a person may be underweight because they cannot tolerate eating large meals. Instead, a person can eat several small meals throughout the day.

Incorporating additional foods. A person can add calorie-dense food sources to their existing diets, such as putting slivered almonds on top of cereal or yogurt, sunflower or chia seeds on a salad or soup, or nut butter on whole-grain toast.

 

Avoiding empty calories:

Eating high-calorie foods may cause a person to gain weight, but they also have excess fats that could affect a person’s heart and blood vessels. A person should avoid foods that are high in sugar and salt.