People who are underweight due to an eating disorder should not exercise unless their doctor tells them to. Physical activity is important for your health, muscle strength, balance, and flexibility. If you normally do high-intensity aerobic workouts, your doctor or nurse may talk to you about more moderate or less vigorous aerobic, strength training, and flexibility exercises.
Your weight can affect your health. Your weight can also make it harder to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are underweight and have period problems or symptoms of malnutrition , such as extreme tiredness, headaches, or hair loss. Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions and may do tests to learn more about what is causing your symptoms or weight loss.
Your doctor or nurse may suggest making changes in your eating and exercise habits, depending on the cause of your weight loss. For more information about underweight, call the OWH Helpline at or check out the following resources from other organizations:. Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home Healthy Weight Underweight. Underweight In today's world, thinness is often praised.
What causes women to be underweight or to lose weight suddenly? These include: Health problems that affect metabolism , such as overactive thyroid or diabetes Health problems that affect the digestive system, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease Other health problems, such as viral hepatitis, cancer, COPD, or Parkinson's disease A lack of appetite due to stress, illness, or substance use Medicines that may cause nausea or lack of appetite Eating disorders, such as anorexia Over-exercising, such as for athletic training Age.
Underweight can especially be a problem for older women who may have loss of appetite, problems chewing, or a health problem. Underweight can run in families. How common is underweight? But if you have experienced sudden weight loss or are not eating enough to keep your body working, you may develop serious health problems, including: Problems with your menstrual cycle. A regular period is a sign of good health.
Losing too much weight can cause periods to be less regular or stop completely. This can happen if your body fat drops so low that you stop ovulating, or releasing an egg from an ovary each month. For example, have you:. If you feel anxious or worried when you think about food, or feel that stress or low self-esteem are affecting the way you eat, you may have an eating disorder.
If you think you may have an eating disorder, talk to someone you trust. Consider speaking to a GP, because help is available. If you're concerned about someone else, find out how you can support them. If diet is the cause of your low weight, changing to a healthy, balanced diet that provides the right amount of calories for your age, height and how active you are can help you achieve a healthy weight.
Try to avoid relying on high-calorie foods full of saturated fat and sugar — such as chocolate, cakes and sugary drinks — to gain weight. These foods can increase body fat instead of lean body mass and increase your risk of developing high levels of cholesterol in your blood. Instead, aim for regular meals and occasional snacks, and base your diet on the Eatwell Guide.
This means:. If you're having foods and drinks that are high in fat , salt and sugar , have these less often and in small amounts. Try to choose a variety of different foods from the 5 main food groups. Learn more about these food groups and how they form part of a healthy diet. However, it's important to remember that the Eatwell Guide is aimed at the general population. For those who need more specialised nutrition advice, consult a GP or a registered dietitian.
If you do not eat meat, find out how to have a healthy vegetarian diet. If you're trying to gain weight, eat foods that are not only healthy but also high in energy.
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