When should difficulty gaining weight be considered medically significant rather than simply a ‘ fast metabolism ‘? Often, being thin is not considered a red flag for health, unlike gaining weight. However, even after eating well, exercising regularly, and increasing your macros, if you don’t gain weight, it could be a signal of an underlying issue.
She explained, “In case of persistent low body weight, fatigue, muscle wasting, and recurrent infections, it means that one requires a medical check-up to rule out underlying metabolic, gastrointestinal , or endocrine disorder. All these indicate the need for a medical check-up. “Moreover, insulin resistance can lead to fat distribution changes, leading to an accumulation of visceral fat but concealing undernutrition. In addition, digestive problems and malabsorption disorders influence body weight,” Dr Eileen added. Moreover, gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease make people even more nutrient-deficient. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Eileen Canday, head of the department of nutrition and dietetics at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, warned that if there is unintentional weight loss that surpasses 5% of body weight within six months or the BMI is less than 18.5 for those aged under 70 years, then it is medically significant. Diabetes, if uncontrolled, can lead to ‘muscle wasting due to the excretion of glucose and poor utilisation of nutrients’.
In order to gain weight healthily, one should follow these steps: Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, according to the expert.
