In J&K more than 29 percent of women and over 20 percent of men are either overweight or obese. However, there are also many people with the opposite problem of being too skinny. Being underweight can be just as bad for your health as being obese.
What does underweight mean:
If your body mass index is below 18.5 then you are underweight. This BMI is estimated to be less than the body mass needed to sustain optimal health.
You can use BMI calculator from our site to see where you fit on the BMI scale.
- 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.
Being underweight can signify as many health concerns to an individual as being overweight can. When a person is underweight, his body doesnÔÇÖt get the nutrients it needs to build healthy bones, skin, and hair.
In this blog, we look at ways to tell if you are underweight, its causes, treatments, and when to see a doctor.
Consequences of being underweight:
Being underweight can be just as unhealthy as being obese ÔÇö if not more. People who are underweight are at risk of
- Osteoporosis
- Infections
- Fertility problems
- Weak immune system
- Anemia
- Irregular cycles
- Premature Births
- Slow or impaired growth
Causes:
There are several medical conditions that can cause unhealthy weight loss. Scroll down to know about the causes of being underweight:
- Eating disorders: This includes anorexia nervosa, a serious mental disorder.
- Thyroid problems: Having an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can boost metabolism and cause unhealthy weight loss.
- Diabetes: Having uncontrolled diabetes can lead to severe weight loss.
- Cancer: Cancerous tumors often burn large amounts of calories and can cause someone to lose a lot of weight.
- Infections: Certain infections can cause someone to become severely underweight. This includes parasites, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
- Stress : Stress is the major cause that can result
So, if you find abnormal weight reduction in your body try to consult your doctor soon as possible as it can be due to some serious medical conditions.
Besides this, if you are looking to gain a few pounds you can face a couple of challenges. The first one is to build up muscle mass and the second one is to keep harmful fats away from your system. However, there are some home remedies that can help you to gain the necessary weight naturally.
- Banana Milkshake
Bananas are high in potassium and contain good levels of protein and dietary fiber. To gain weight, take one full glass of banana milkshake at least twice a day. Alternatively, you could also consider consuming at least 3 bananas per day. Follow it up with either a glass of milk or a bowl of curd.
If bananas are not your type, you can also indulge in a heavy mixed fruit diet along with plenty of milk. Fruit would provide enough sugars to the system and the milk would be an ideal source of protein.
- Muskmelon
Muskmelon is also considered to be helpful in weight gain. You need to have three large servings per day for results to show.
- Warm Milk with Dates:
Dates are rich source of protein .Drink up a glass of warm milk mixed with two to three dates, on a regular basis. Similarly, you could add some figs, almonds and raisins to milk and boil it for some time. This could also be a suitable drink for those combating underweight issues.
- Rice:
Rice is a convenient, low-cost carbohydrate source to help you gain weight. Just 1 cup (165 grams) of cooked rice provides 190 calories, 43 grams of carbs and very little fat.
Rice is also fairly calorie-dense, meaning you can easily obtain a high amount of carbs and calories from a single serving, which helps to increase appetite.
When youÔÇÖre on the go or in a rush, small rice bowl can be easily added carbohydrate to your daily diet. To gain weight quickly tries to have rice thrice a day.
- Cheese:
Cheese has been a staple food for centuries. ItÔÇÖs high in calories and fats. If you eat it in larger quantities, itÔÇÖs also a very good source of protein. For gaining weight try to add cheese to your diet chart. You can simply have raw cheese in your diet. Never overcook or fry cheese as it decreases its nutrient value.
- Eggs:
They are one of the healthiest muscle-building foods on the planet. They provide a great combination of high-quality proteins and healthy fats.
Never skip egg yolk as almost all of the beneficial nutrients are found in it. Try to have 2-3 eggs in your breakfast. In fact, many athletes or bodybuilders will eat six or more daily.
- Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate is the rich source of antioxidants and great health benefits. Besides this, it has a very high-calorie density, meaning it’s very easy to get many calories from it.Each 100-gram (3.5-ounce) bar has around 600 calories and is packed with micronutrients and health-promoting compounds, including fiber, magnesium and antioxidants. So donÔÇÖt forget to wrap dark chocolate for your busy day.
The secret behind gaining weight is consistently eating more calories than you need. You have to eat something after a break of two hours. Try to have heavy meals thrice a day.
Besides food exercise is important too, so that the additional calories can be used to build muscle instead of just adding fat.
Incorporate above-mentioned foods in your diet chart and if your results are still ÔÇ£underweightÔÇØ consult the professional endocrinologist soon. As sometimes weight problem is due to increased rate of metabolism in your body.
Hope this article was helpful for you.┬á Don’t forget to check your BMI on illaaj.com. Eat healthy and live healthy.