Monday, 15th of June 2009 at 12:15:47 PMI was visiting with some family this weekend who own a house on a lake. The weather was beautiful so we decided to lounge lakeside and dip in and out of the water in the hot afternoon. As the guys did their own thing, I sat and chatted with my sister-in-law, who is a very smart and wonderful person and who is also very, very thin. I’m not sure how the conversation came around to it, but at one point she was telling me how she wants to lose the “rolls” on her stomach. I squinted to see the little rolls on her stomach, which is likely loose skin from when she was pregnant and nothing to do with body fat. “I’ll show you rolls” I thought to myself, with visions of whipping my t-shirt up and having her gasp in shock at the ebb and flow of my rolling bodyscape, but I didn’t. Instead I told her she looked wonderful, which she does.
Being underweight can be very unhealthy and can lead to many health problems including anemia, hair loss and infertility.
Afterward my sister-in-law and I talked about what a “healthy weight” would be for her, and for me, and we shared about counting calories and the daily struggles of trying to stick to a healthy diet. It was good to have the focus of weight be off of me for a change to be honest. It was also good to address that fact that there are many health dangers associated with being underweight as there are with being overweight and that unhealthy eating habits tend to be at the root of both of these problems.
A lot of attention has been focused in dealing with overweight issues but much as this is justified, little attention has been directed to tackling matters pertaining to being underweight. Scientifically speaking, people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is under 18.5 are considered to be underweight. Some of the main causes of weight loss that leads a person to being underweight include; stress and depression, malnutrition, abuse, eating disorders, and dental or oral problems.
Being underweight can be a serious risk to the immune system by making it weak. That basically means that the body is not getting enough nutrients and can therefore cause one to have the flu, a cold or be at risk of other related infections much more frequently than other people. It can also result in a serious loss of hair (as discussed in the previous post “Dieting Causes Hair Loss” or growth of hair in the most unlikely and unwanted areas. This condition is more common in women than men. Hair needs to be nourished by adequate and healthy intake of food just like the body.
An underweight person is at higher risk of having osteoporosis and bone loss. Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones and makes them brittle. Having osteoporosis increases chances of one having fractures and broken bones. The body needs energy that is found in food to strengthen bones. Women in menopause are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Serious weight loss especially because of deliberate food restriction or illness is also known to reduce the levels of muscle mass. For growing teenagers, the muscles may not develop well by being underweight.
Many pregnancy complications have also been related to a woman being underweight, resulting in miscarriages especially in the first three months of the pregnancy and in severe cases it may actually cause infertility or make it almost impossible to conceive. Underweight conditions can also result in anemia. Anemia is brought about when the body is not able to transport enough oxygen in the red blood cells. Some of the symptoms of anemia include heart palpitations, exhaustion, fainting or feeling extremely dizzy. This condition is caused by iron deficiencies. People restricting food intake or dieting are more likely to suffer from anemia. Another effect of severe weight loss is that it causes menstrual irregularities by making the menstrual flow become irregular or it can make it stop in severe cases also known as amenorrhea. Other health dangers of being underweight include heart irregularities, vulnerability to diseases, memory loss, cancer, digestive diseases and hypothermia.
It is as important to remember and address the health dangers of being underweight as it is to address the ones associated with being overweight or obese. If you have friends or family who are very thin, watch out for signs that may make one see that the weight loss is becoming a problem. Some physical signs can be loose and elastic skin, depression, loss of muscle bulk and lethargy, which is also lack of energy. Rapid weight loss can also be a strong sign that something is wrong. Being underweight is just as risky as being overweight and is typically caused by unhealthy eating habits, such as starvation diets and skipping meals. There are also some health problems that may cause one to become underweight, such as hyperthyroidism. Of course, one major cause of someone becoming underweight is an eating disorder. Whatever the cause, it is important to address the issue if it is present.
Great Article, as a male collegiate athlete, I was monitored very closely as my body fat was constantly at 6%. NCAA rules state that if a male athlete body fat drops below 6% that athlete can not compete. That’s when became educated and I understood how dangerous it is to be underweight and the effects it can have on your body’s chemistry.
ever sense I was about 10, I’ve been underweight. Recently I have been struggeling with an eating disorder, and though I’ve stopped, I can’t seem to gain the weight back. I honestly eat three healthy meals a day, and don’t purge, or workout excessivly. I’m thinking that this may just be where my body weight is naturally, but does that still put me at risk of the things that come with being underweight? I do get sick alot, but I don’t know if that’s just because of other things.
Anika – Thank you for sharing your experience with us. You didn’t mention, but have you been to your doctor lately for a physical? I think that your doctor would be the best person to talk to about whether you are at a healthy weight right now. It is true that some people have a very fast metabolism and are naturally quite thin. You could be one of these people. It is great that you are eating three “healthy meals” each day. Do you know how many calories a day you are eating? If not, try tracking your calorie intake with a calorie counter for a week to make sure you are eating at least 1400 calories a day. Anything less than that may be too little and could harm your health in the long run.
I am very, very thin, probably about 20 lbs under weight. I don’t have an eating disorder, and I hardly ever get sick. One of my problems is that I don’t eat very healthy. I am also a very picky eater. I like corn, oranges, bananas, and grapes…but that’s about it with fruits and vegetables. I eat out a lot and eat junk food a lot too. I know that I need to eat healthier, and i’m working on that, but I don’t get why i’m not gaining any weight from eating so unhealthy. I also get good exercise and I played soccer for 8 years, but don’t really have any muscle either. My doctor is a little concerned, but hasn’t said anything about being too concerned. I’m really concerned because I don’t want to end up with tons of health issues when I get older.
I’m 23 years old and I’m 20 lbs underweight too. I’m 5′6. But I’m not the very skinny type although I think I’m slim. I have bulges though and I can’t consider myself as an anorexic look. Other people say that weight is not an important issue. Measurements are more important to see if one is healthy or in shape. However, I do get sick very often. I’m not sure if it is related to me b eing underweight. I go to the gym once a week and I try not to eat any fatty foods as much as I can. I’m also knock kneed. I have joint pains at the foot and knees but I’m not sure also if that’s due to being underweight, knock kneed, or I’m just plain paranoid.