“Consultation regarding weight gain?”
I recently wanted to consult your specialists about my friend's weight gain. She is 16 and is underweight. She eats a bunch of food but still, she's unable to gain weight. Can you share some solutions for this problem?
Female | 16 years old
1 Answer
RegisteredDietitianNutritionist
The first thing to ask is what is her Body Mass Index, or BMI. If it is normal, then there is no reason to gain weight. The second thing to ask is why does she want to gain weight? For athletics perhaps? The reason needs to be a good one. Lastly, are there underlying physical or psychiatric issues involved that would prompt her to gain weight, ie celiac disease (that prevents absorption of calories), or depression or anxiety that might affect her body image. Her physician can help sort through these questions to see if indeed weight gain is a good idea or not for her. As far as gaining weight, it's simply a matter of ingestion calories, and of course health calories. Lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and the right kind of fats. A consultation with a nutrition expert is needed for that.
Dr K
Dr K
