Problems Associated With Being Underweight

For a long time, losing weight and dieting has been a subject of constant discussion. It is not uncommon to find people who are on a strict regime to shed excess pounds. While some resort to specific kinds of diets, others engage in regular exercise.
Being underweight implies that the Body Mass Index (BMI) is less than 18.5. Even though complaints about being too skinny can result in envy from people who are living with obesity, being underweight also comes with serious health challenges, including a higher risk of osteoporosis, as well as fertility issues.
Indeed, self-esteem can suffer when an individual is not happy about their body size simply because they want more muscles. There are many reasons why an individual can be underweight. While genetics can play a role, eating more calories than you burn can be bad as well. Other times, this may be due to specific underlying health challenges.
Yet, the risks that are associated with being underweight cannot be ignored. Why is it so bad to be very thin? To explain more, this guide will provide insight into the various issues that are related to being overweight. Let’s dive in!
Being skinny does not necessarily imply good health
While being underweight implies that there may be no need to worry about excessive calories or the amount of food that should be consumed, the importance of your food quality must never be taken for granted. Besides this, maintaining the right weight will prevent many diseases. As a result, you will find many underweight people adopting weight gain pills to add more pounds. However, regardless of your weight, physical and mental health can benefit from exercise.
Why is it bad to be too skinny?
If you think being too obese is bad, how about being underweight? Being underweight implies that your BMI is not up to 18.5. The estimation of your Body Mass Index does not take into account your age, health status, and muscle mass percentage. There are many conditions that are associated with being underweight. Some of these include
- osteoporosis
- Weakness or lack of lean muscle tissue
- Increased risk of slow-healing fractures
- Low energy
- Damaged hair, skin, and teeth
- Taking longer to heal from wounds or surgery
- Less effective immune system
- Amenorrhea (the loss of your menstrual period)
- Anemia
When you lose weight excessively, it becomes harder to carry out certain activities since there is little energy throughout the day. Indeed, you can fall sick or find it harder to recover from the flu or cold. This could be a sign that you are losing weight excessively, which is not good for your health. At that point, your body needs a healthier balance.
The impact of social media on self-consciousness
The influence of social media on self-consciousness cannot be stressed enough. Indeed, social media has made people obsessed with their weight. The image of an attractive, healthy weight has changed over the years. Weight stigma is a serious issue that impacts different people across varying weight distributions.
While having a good body image in the past includes being slim, many celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Ashley Graham are moving away from the slim look. Even though an individual is more likely to gain weight as they grow, thanks to decreased metabolic rate, engaging in physical activities can monitor weight gain.
Social media can either be a force of positive change or a platform where people with weight issues can be attacked. Regardless, to maintain good health, people should pay attention to what they eat, as well as the amount of physical exercise they have. Having the energy to carry out daily affairs can be a signal for a healthy weight.