What is Underweight?
Underweight is a state of lack of body weight that occurs due to a lack of nutrient intake. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, underweight is a nutritional status based on body mass index, which is the equivalent term of undernutrition. According to WHO, underweight is a nutritional status that describes malnutrition when the Body Mass Index (BMI) is less than 18.5 kg/m2. Underweight is often a symptom of a disease. Someone who is underweight may have a greater risk of death compared to someone with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2).
Causal Factors
Basically, the causes of underweight can be distinguished based on two factors, namely physiological and psychological factors. The following are the factors that cause underweight quoted from several sources:
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Lack of food intake
Inadequate food intake that does not meet the body's needs can lead to underweight. Lack of food intake can be caused by various circumstances such as illness, stress, taking certain medications, and high daily activity. Inadequate food intake can also be caused by improper diet or eating patterns.
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High physical activity
Individuals with high activity such as athletes/sportsmen are more at risk of being underweight than individuals with low activity. When doing high activity, the body will burn more calories so that not many nutrients can be stored.
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Inadequate nutrient absorption
Every body has different characteristics. Some people have a tendency to metabolize faster than others, along with the absorption process is not maximized. This causes the body to not get the nutrients it needs and leads to underweight.
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Disease Factors
Disease processes can increase the body's metabolism and energy needs. Such as in cancer, hyperthyroidism, and AIDS. A person who is affected by the disease is easier to lose weight, because the body increases metabolism and uses a lot of energy to fight the disease that is happening.
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Genetics
Genetic factors that are inherited in a person can make high levels of metabolism or less body fat cells.
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Age
Age can affect the occurrence of underweight. As you get older, your body's ability to absorb nutrients decreases.
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Lifestyle
Consumption of caffeine, nicotine and various additives can affect the body's ability to absorb food.
Dangers of Underweight for Health
Apart from affecting your appearance, being underweight also poses a risk of various health problems. There are a number of complications that can arise due to underweight, such as fertility problems and developmental disorders.
1. Malnutrition
Underweight is often associated with malnutrition because this condition often occurs due to not eating healthy foods with enough balanced nutrition. Malnutrition can lead to a number of health problems.
2. Osteoporosis
Low body weight can also increase the risk of bone loss or osteoporosis. This is because underweight can also be accompanied by vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, which can adversely affect bone health.
3. Fertility Problems
One of the health problems that can occur due to underweight is fertility problems, especially if it occurs in women. This condition can make women experience irregular menstrual cycles and lead to infertility.
4. Premature Childbirth
Pregnant women who are underweight are more at risk of experiencing premature labor. Premature labor itself is a condition when the baby is born before the gestational age reaches 37 weeks. This condition can cause health problems to the baby because his organs are still not fully developed.
5. Growth and Development Disorders
If it occurs in children, underweight can hinder the growth and development process. This is because underweight occurs because children do not get adequate nutritional intake and are needed in the process of developing various organs, such as bones, brain, and so on.
How to overcome underweight
Handling underweight can be done by eating a balanced nutritious diet to fulfill the body's nutritional needs and increase weight healthily. As for some ways that can be done to raise weight healthily and deal with underweight are:
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Eat more often. Slowly, start eating 5 to 6 small meals. Try to adjust your body to recognize when you are hungry. You may still need to plan times to eat even when you are not particularly hungry.
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Eat foods that contain carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread and processed wheat.
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Eat milk and dairy products.
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Eating high-protein foods, such as nuts, eggs, red meat, fish meat, and others.
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Eat foods that contain healthy fats, such as avocados and olive oil.
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Exercise regularly or lift weights to help build muscle mass. Regular exercise can also stimulate appetite.
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Adequate body fluids of at least 2 liters or the equivalent of 8 glasses a day.
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