Definition
The term “underweight complications” refers to thinness and weight loss in an adult that falls below the normal and healthy range.
Generally, an adult is considered underweight if their BMI is below 18.5 kg/m², and it is estimated that between 8 and 9% of people suffer from malnutrition and have an unhealthy level of thinness.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good indicator of whether a person is underweight or overweight, and body fat is estimated approximately based on a person’s weight and height.
While obesity and weight gain are health risks, being underweight also increases susceptibility to developing specific health problems, such as immunodeficiency, osteoporosis, and hair loss.
Some believe that rapid weight loss is effective and healthy for eliminating accumulated body fat. However, science has shown the opposite: a new study suggests that a diet focused on rapid weight loss can lead to nutritional deficiencies, muscle loss, and a slower metabolism, according to dietitian Harley Lambert.
Lambert states that losing fat gradually “helps lead a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”
“A healthy amount of weight you can lose in a week is between half a pound and one pound. If you’re on a diet, you probably won’t notice any overall weight loss, but you will notice fat loss because exercise strengthens muscles.”
Causes Of Underweight
There are many explanations for why people may be underweight, including:
Genetic causes
Family history can contribute to weight loss. Some people are genetically predisposed to being thin due to a high metabolic rate, meaning they may be underweight even when eating regularly.
Medical causes
Many medical conditions can cause persistent weight loss, such as gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease and colitis, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Some conditions can also cause loss of appetite or sudden weight loss, such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism.
Sudden or severe weight loss can also indicate a serious illness, such as cancer.
Psychological Causes
Several mental illnesses and psychological disorders can cause weight loss, such as:
- Depression and anxiety.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
Increased Physical Activity
Increased physical stress and high levels of physical activity burn large amounts of calories, which increases fat burning and weight loss. Athletes are among the most active groups, engaging in strenuous exercise to maintain a low body fat percentage and increase muscle mass.
Symptoms
Several factors can indicate that a person is underweight, and a healthy weight is one at which the body can properly perform essential functions. Signs of being underweight include:
Excessive Illnesses
When the body undergoes unhealthy weight loss, the immune system is likely to be compromised.
A person is more likely to contract the flu, seasonal colds, or any other infectious disease.
Furthermore, a complication of being underweight is that it often takes longer to recover from an illness due to a weakened immune system.
Frequent Feelings of Fatigue or Colds
Inactivity is a sign of being underweight. When a person is thin, they often eat little, so the body doesn’t get enough essential nutrients and vitamins, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
Weight loss can also lead to vitamin B deficiency, which can cause anaemia, iron deficiency, chills, and problems regulating body temperature.
Hair Loss
Although hair loss is common, an adult loses about 100 hairs a day. However, increased hair loss is often one of the first signs of being underweight. This can indicate that a person is not maintaining a healthy weight, for example, by following a strict diet that does not include enough protein or foods containing the vitamins necessary for hair growth.
Hormonal Problems
Being underweight in women can cause several hormonal problems. When the body doesn’t have enough fat, it can have difficulty producing hormones, including sex hormones such as estrogen.
Hormonal imbalances can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.
She may not be able to get pregnant for one or more months, and this hormonal disorder and irregular periods can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
Treatment
Treatment for being underweight requires addressing the underlying problem that caused the weight loss, whether it’s hereditary or due to excessive physical activity.
You can work with your dietitian to develop a high-calorie diet for weight gain.
Everyone needs to have enough fat and muscle to maintain a healthy body and bones. Therefore, when treating underweight and increasing your BMI to a healthy level, it’s important to eat healthily, monitor your calorie intake, and exercise regularly.
Although exercise might seem counterproductive, 30 minutes of exercise helps maintain healthy joints and bones and increases appetite. Even so, it’s recommended to consume 500 to 1000 more calories than you burn each day, which should result in a weight gain of 0.45 to 0.9 kg per week.
Tips
- Eat healthy, calorie-dense foods to increase your daily calorie intake instead of fast food that is high in sugar, fat, and unhealthy. For example, eat oatmeal with whole milk or peanut butter with a banana.
- Drink high-calorie beverages as a snack before bed or use quality ingredients, such as fresh fruit, powdered milk, Greek yoghurt, nut butter, and flax seeds, to make a calorie-rich drink.
- Eat calorie-dense snacks between main meals, such as nuts, dried fruit, and full-fat dairy products, to increase your daily calorie intake.
Conclusion
Underweight refers to a weight that is below normal for your age, height, and sex. This can have various health consequences. Consult a medical professional for an evaluation, testing, and guidance on how to achieve a healthy weight. If you are underweight and looking to gain weight, focus on increasing your calorie intake through nutrient-rich foods and regular exercise, and consult a healthcare professional for personalised guidance. This approach addresses underlying health issues and promotes gradual weight gain.