Abstract
Weight gain or weight loss, both of them are challenging tasks and require a lot of hard work and determination. No matter if an individual is thin due to genetics, fast metabolism, or some disease the person suffering from being underweight can have a lot of appearance and personality issues. Mental issues and eating disorders are also commonly seen in such patients. Being underweight is also associated with a lot of health issues like heart, kidney, and liver disorders. Underweight people are also having a very high risk of death as well. Proper treatment for the cause and diet is required to treat this. In this article, we get to know about what being underweight is, its causes, symptoms, and diagnosis, its Ayurvedic, Modern, and Homoeopathic management, and solutions at Planet Ayurveda for gaining weight.
Introduction To Weight Gain
These days, the social media pictures of models and the race to have perfect body leads to a lot of faulty eating patterns and also leads to people suffering from severe eating disorders. Gaining weight is having a simple principle that "quality over quantity". Often skinny people hear others advising them to eat whatever they see or get to gain weight but this statement is completely false as eating a high amount of carbs with zero nutritional value may or may not increase the weight but will also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and liver ailments. Advice shall only be taken from experienced dieticians regarding this as the following quack advice would lead to disastrous consequences.
What Is Not Letting One Gain Weight
Multiple issues can lead to weight not increasing up to desired levels to be diagnosed properly to gain weight. These causes can include: -
- Hormonal Issues:- Hormonal issues can directly impact one’s weight and can increase or decrease it. One such issue is Hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland. An increase of leptin in the blood can also lead to a reduction in appetite and ultimately weight loss.
- Eating Disorders:- Eating disorders can lead to drastic and unhealthy weight loss in a person who’s suffering. These include anorexia Nervosa, bulimia, restrictive food intake disorder, and bulimia.
- Being Highly Physically Active:- Some individuals do not have any issues with their body or mind but due to over-activity and burning more calories than they consume they are underweight.
- Genetics:- It is often seen that children whose parents are skinny often end up being skinny too. Many genetic disorders also lead to weight loss.
- GIT Disorders:- GIT disorders lead to disturbed absorption and assimilation of nutrients which hampers weight gain. The conditions can include:- Gastroenteritis, Inflammatory bowel syndrome, Ulcerative colitis, Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, Gastrointestinal reflux disease, and Peptic ulcers.
- Infections and Inflammation:- Chronic infections and inflammations can also lead to weight loss due to increased body temperature which in turn increases the metabolism and leads to weight loss. The infections can include: - HIV, Tuberculosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Diabetes:- In diabetes patients, the insulin is insufficient due to which the glucose is not absorbed into cells to be used as energy so the body starts to burn fat to be used as an energy source which leads to weight loss.
- Cancer:- Cancerous cells are known to release chemicals into the body leading to weight loss and weakness.
Diagnosis
Whether underweight is due to some underlying illness or due to the over-activeness of a person. Both of these causes are to be ruled out during the treatment of the patent. The following ways can help to diagnose the cause of being underweight:-
- Body Weight:- If someone is having 15-20% low body weight as compared to what his/her weight shall be according to his/her height then the individual can be diagnosed as underweight.
- Underlying Health Issues:- Diagnosing underlying health issues with proper history taking and assessment including blood work and scans is required to rule out underlying pathology causing the patient to be underweight.
- Body Mass Index (BMI):- This parameter is of much use in determining whether an individual is underweight or overweight. If one is having BMI less than 18.5 then he/she can be considered under the category of being underweight.
- Waist Circumference:- Waist circumference is said to be having following normal values: -
- >35 inches or 88 cm for females.
- >40 inches or 102 cm for males.
Having a low waist circumference can be a risk factor or indicative of being underweight.
Complications Associated With Being Underweight
Being underweight might sound great but comes with a lot of complications with time. These include:-
- Anemia:- Underweight people have mostly a low number of blood cells that can lead to dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.
- Falling Sick Frequently:- Improper assimilation leads to weak immunity which tends to fall sick frequently which can directly affect the weight of an individual.
- Osteoporosis:- This is mostly seen in women where the bones tend to become brittle and fractures get common.
- Irregular Periods:- Those women who are underweight might experience irregular periods which in the long run can also cause infertility.
- Constant Tiredness:- Individuals not getting enough calories often feel tired the whole day due to a lack of energy.
- Skin, Teeth, and Hair Problems:- Lack of nutritional diet and bad assimilation would often lead to poor dental health, hair fall, and dry and thin skin.
- Premature Births:- Underweight women are often found to be at risk of premature delivery.
- Impaired/Slow Growth:- This can happen due to a lack of calories and sufficient energy for growth. This condition is also termed "failure to thrive".
Modern Solutions To Gain Weight
Modern science claims to have solutions for gaining weight but there are many risks associated with these. These shall always be consumed under the guidance of expert doctors. These solutions include:-
- Anabolic Steroids:- These are the most illegally used kind of medications by bodybuilders and athletes for enhancing their performance and are prescribed when there is weight loss due to any chronic illnesses. Abuse can lead to multiple organ damages that can also include kidney and liver problems, testes shrinkage, etc.
- Hormone-based Supplements:- The hormones that are mimicked in this preparation are the sex hormones and these supplements include the famous Megestrol known to increase weight by increasing the appetite. This is mostly used in patients who lose weight due to chronic diseases like HIV or cancer. Consumption of these is also followed by side effects like decreased libido, rashes on the skin, bleeding from the vagina, and sleeplessness.
- Cannabis-based Formulation:- These include one of the most abused forms of cannabis which are Marinol or Dronabinol which drastically increases the appetite and is available in pill form as well as an oil-based formulation that is easier to swallow for those with dysphagia. As interesting as this solution sounds it is having very deleterious side effects as well which include feeling high followed by depression, nausea and vomiting, paranoia, and headaches.
Homeopathic Solutions To Gain Weight
Homoeopathic solutions work on the root cause of being skinny and help increase weight by increasing the appetite, improving their digestion power and assimilation. It also helps in getting rid of eating disorders and worm infestation without side effects and addictions.
The following remedies can be followed to gain weight:-
- Ignatia:- This is the best remedy for those suffering from chronic eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia. With time, this medication improves the mental status of the patient and takes away their fear of eating, and cures hunger suppression.
- Alfalfa Tonic:- This medication helps to fight malnutrition, indigestion due to nervousness, and eating disorders.
- Sepia:- This remedy helps to improve appetite loss due to hormonal imbalance by restoring it and leading to weight gain.
- Calcarea Phosphorica:- This helps to gain weight post any chronic illness. It also cures weak digestive systems, weak bones, and anemia in children.
- Aloe Socotrina:- This medicine helps to gain weight in patients who have a very small appetite and feel full after intake of a very small portion of meals. This also helps in people who have gurgling sounds in their abdomen along with pain during defecation.
Ayurvedic Solutions To Gain Weight
In Ayurveda, the vata dosha is considered responsible for being skinny or underweight. Vata is considered to be dry and light and the patient is also having vata characteristics like being restless, having fast metabolism, etc. Correction of vitiated Vata dosha is very much required to improve the assimilation of nutrients and body weight. The following medications can be followed to achieve desired weight:-
- Shatavari/Asparagus Racemosus:- This herb is considered the queen of herbs and helps with eating disorders and improves digestion. When taken with milk, this herb can provide better results.
- Yashtimadhu/Licorice Root:- This helps in removing all assimilation-related issues in the body and leads to weight gain. It also keeps the body away from diseases and frequent sickness thereby stabilising weight.
- Safed Musli/Chlorophytum Borivilianum:- This herb works by reducing mental conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression that can lead to eating disorders and weight loss. It also removes muscular weakness and provides then strength.
- Triphala:- Triphala contains Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica), and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) that help to clear the toxins and improve the assimilation of all the vitamins and nutrients. It also helps to improve the metabolism which leads to weight gain.
- Ashwagandha/Indian Ginseng:- This herb is having multiple benefits and works on the root cause of being underweight. It is known to reduce stress and anxiety that lead to loss of weight. It also provides strength to the body by improving muscle mass and improves libido. Ashwagandha also boosts digestion and metabolism.
Planet Ayurveda's Solutions To Gain Weight
Planet Ayurveda is a well-known organisation that treats diseases and removes them from root causes through their holistic approach towards patients based on strict Ayurvedic principles mentioned in ancient texts and formulated by MD Ayurveda experts from the last 20 years. Planet Ayurveda provides great solutions for gaining weight without any side effects or addictions as they contain purely natural ingredients and can make one look healthy and fit if followed properly.The following solutions can be considered for gaining weight:-
Products List
- Weight Gain Formula
- Shatavari Powder
- Shatavari Capsules
- Immune Booster
Herbal Remedies For Weight Gain
PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION
1. Weight Gain Formula
This helps to gain weight as it contains extracts of Triphala, Ashwagandha, Jeerak, Saunf, Vidanga, etc which help in improving digestion and promoting proper assimilation of nutrients improving overall strength and stamina of the patient as well. It also converts fats into muscles and gains weight.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water.
2. Shatavari Powder & Shatavari Capsules
Shatavari is available in capsule and powder form and helps in removing toxins from the body and improves digestion along with that it also helps to reduce stress and anxiety and helps to build great immunity which leads to a strong and disease-free body.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water and 1 teaspoon twice daily after meals with plain water.
3. Immune Booster
These capsules help to improve immunity and prevent falling sick again and again which is one of the major causes of being underweight. It contains Grape seeds, Bhumi amla, Go-Piyush, and Amalaki that are provided to the immune system.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily after meals with plain water.
What Can Be Done To Gain Weight?
Gaining weight is as difficult as it is losing it. Skinny people are often mistaken to be healthy, but that is not always true as there might be some underlying cause for them being skinny and unable to gain weight. The following measures can be taken to avoid losing weight after gaining it:-
- Diagnosis of the underlying pathology that might be leading to weight loss like thyroid disorders, mental disorders Gastrointestinal disorders, etc.
- Frequent meals
- Increasing the calories in food by adding olive oil, cheese, butter, ghee, and nut butter
- Consumption of high-fat snacks
- Consumption of nutrient-rich smoothies and shakes
- Performing strength training exercises that can help in building up muscles
Conclusion
Gaining an ideal weight is as difficult as losing it and requires almost similar efforts as losing. As easy as gaining weight eating junk food or sweets sounds, the side effects are numerous. The quality over quantity principle shall be followed always. Proper diagnosis and treatment of the underlying health issues and a proper intake of a nutritious diet can surely help in gaining weight. Working out a few times a week can also help to build muscle mass which will have more weight than fat and will lead to weight gain. The market is having a plethora of supplements from Modern science, Ayurveda, and homoeopathy but it is necessary to make a correct choice by weighing both pros and cons of each. Planet Ayurveda provides a 100% safe solution for gaining weight without any side effects, addictions, and after-effects as all solutions provided are herbal and based on ancient wisdom.
