In the recent study, The Lancet Journal has found that 102 million men and 101 million women are underweight in India. India leads the world in being home to over 40% of the global underweight population which is a very big number. In India, there is anemia patient also in a very huge amount.
In this article, we look at ways to tell if you are underweight, the consequences of being underweight, and what should be done.
WHEN A PERSON IS UNDERWEIGHT
An underweight person is a person whose body weight is considered too low to be healthy. It generally happens when a person’s height and body weight is below the proportion of 18.5 BMI (Body Mass Index).
WHY IT HAPPENS:-
There are multiple reasons because of which a person may be underweight. Some of them are discussed here:-
Genetic History – Some people have naturally low BMI due to genetic characters that they have acquired from their family.
Fast Metabolism – If a person has a fast Metabolism, they may not gain much weight even when eating high energy foods.
It is because their body doesn’t absorb many nutrients as compared to a normal weight person.
Highly Physical Active – Athletes or people who engage in high levels of physical activity such as runners, farmers,
and laborers, may burn significant amounts of calories which results in low body weight.
Chronic Diseases or Illness – Diseases such as regular nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea make it difficult to gain weight.
These conditions may also decrease the appetite of a person, so they do not feel like eating anymore.
Consequences of being underweight:-
- Weak immune system.
- Poor growth of the body especially in children.
- A person may also feel dizziness or fatigue.
- Fragile bones due to unbalanced nutrient’s diet.
- May Cause hair loss because of the deficiency of some vitamins and minerals.
- Irregular menstruation may also create problems in pregnancy and fertility in women.
- Being underweight if you are not having a balanced diet then it can cause malnutrition.
- It may cause anemia and osteoporosis due to the deficiency of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients.
- A person is also prone to diseases like flu, colds, and infections.
- Due to weak muscles, a person cannot do physical works.
STUDIES:-
Research conducted in 2013 by researchers at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital suggests that people who are clinically underweight have a 1.8 times greater risk of dying than people of normal weight.
Moreover, obese people have 1.2 times greater risk of dying than those with normal weight. It means
people who are underweight are at more risk of dying as compared to obese people.
How you’ll know that you are underweight or not:-
If your BMI(Body Mass Index) is below 18.5 then you’re underweight. Your BMI must be between 18.5 – 24.9 to being a normal weighted person.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE:-
Take the help of your Dr., You may be able to attain a normal BMI through lifestyle changes and healthy eating.
Your Dr. can also help you navigate solutions for limited access to nutrients dense foods, physiological issues, underlying health conditions, medication side effects, and other situations that contribute to being underweight or malnourished.
STEP BY YOURSELF:-
By making a few tweaks to a diet and lifestyle, one can gain a healthy weight, you can read our article on how to gain weight and avoid many consequences of being underweight.
- Eat smaller meals, more frequently. Add more snacks into your routine as well.
- Stick to foods rich in proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs.
- Get more calories in your meals by adding things like cheese, nuts, and seeds as toppings to main dishes.
- Start doing the workout. A person can gain weight by adding muscle to the body. It’ll also improve the appetite of a person.
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Sooraj Prakash
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