21 years
Hi drs.After blood test my TSH: 2.01MIU/ml and my GH (RIA) : 2.39ng/ml. I'm sooo skinny I Don't gain weight (31 Kg) what should I do? :(
Aug 17, 2014
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The first question to be asked is your weight used to be like this since your beginning or was normal and then drop gradually or was normal and drops suddenly ,these give clue what might the cause be.
HOWEVER,TSH and GH levels are normal and are not the causes.
A body weight that is considered to be the below the normal recommended weight for the persons height, build and sex. The body mass index is often used as the criteria to determine if a person is within the normal weight range. BMI<20 is generally considered underweight although people outside this range may still be perfectly healthy. People who are underweight may have an increased risk of anemia, heart irregularities and osteoporosis. One of the better known conditions associated with low body weight is anorexia. People who are underweight can find it extremely difficult to put on weight
A person is considered underweight if her body weight drops below a healthy range, as designated by doctors or dietary professionals. In many cases, low body weight is associated with lethargy, trouble regulating body temperature, a weakened immune system and, in severe cases, heart complications. Although some people are genetically prone to carry lower body weight, sudden or drastic drops in a person's weight may indicate serious illness.
Anyone who is 15 to 20% below the normal weight for age and height is classified as underweight.
In real terms, this means that if you are an average woman between the ages of 25 and 50, and you are about 1.63 metres tall, your weight should be approximately 59 kg if you are not underweight.
Being 31 kg at age of 22 years is considered severe underweight your BMI index for sure is low .
CAUSES MIGHT BE :
Underweight can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are psychological, while others are physical.
There are five major medical reasons for pronounced weight loss and underweight:
>> Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland, which produces the hormone thyroxine, is often regarded as the 'conductor' of the body. If your thyroid hormone production is normal, all will be well with your health, metabolism and weight.
If, however, the function of your thyroid gland is disturbed so that it produces too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism and many body functions such a heartbeat, body temperature, etc., will be deranged and you will experience pronounced weight loss.
If you experience sudden weight loss accompanied by any of the above-mentioned symptoms such as goitre, excessive sweating and tiredness, you need to have a medical examination and thyroid function tests.
if you are not taking thyroid medications and your level of TSH as you mentioned in the question then your TSH is normal and this is not your cause .
>>Cancer
Malignancy or cancer can also be associated with rapid weight loss, tiredness, lack of appetite, nausea, and inability to gain weight.
Because malignancies are so serious, it is important to have your doctor give you a thorough examination and have blood and other tests done to determine if you could be suffering from conditions such as leukemia, or other types of cancer.
>Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, or TB, is very common in South Africa. This is a wasting disease that is accompanied by rapid weight loss, coughing, night sweats, tiredness and malaise.
Once again, you urgently need to find out if the weight loss you experience is due to TB, so that you can receive the appropriate treatment.
especially if you traveled lived or someone comes from africa living with you or in contact .
have a TB test.
>>Diabetes
Although many patients with insulin resistance and diabetes tend to suffer from overweight, excessive weight loss, tiredness, excessive thirst and urination, are also symptoms of diabetes.
Patients displaying these symptoms need to have their blood glucose and insulin levels tested to see if they suffer from diabetes. This is particularly significant in families with a hereditary tendency to diabetes.
you might have blood suger test .
>>HIV/Aids
This condition, also initially called 'slim disease', causes pronounced weight loss and hampers weight gain.
If you suspect that you may be living with HIV/Aids and your weight keeps on dropping even when you eat large quantities of food, you should have an HIV test as soon as possible.
With the correct medication and diet, you will be able to halt the progression of this disease and improve your survival rate and quality of life.
>>Besides anorexia and/or bulimia one of the most important causes of underweight is depression.
Patients suffering from depression not only often have a reduced appetite, but they may actively lose weight at an alarming rate. If you have any reason to believe that you may be suffering from depression, it is essential to get help as fast as possible from clinical psychologists or psychiatrists to stop your weight loss.
Other symptoms that may point towards depression are moodiness, tiredness, an overpowering urge to sleep all day, inability to do simple daily tasks, a feeling that 'life is not worth living' and ideas of suicide.
>>Medication – many medicines either suppress appetite or actually cause weight loss. Check with your pharmacist if you have recently started a new medication and now are losing weight without wanting to.
>>Excessive exercise ,you may well be overdoing your exercise sessions to such an extent that your diet cannot keep up with the increased demands.
>>Excessive stress , individuals who are very stressed may stop eating due to a lack of appetite, nausea or being preoccupied with their worries.
>>Enzyme deficiencies ,deficiencies of digestive enzymes and/or stomach acid may also hamper digestion and absorption of food thus causing weight loss.
>>Other medical conditions such as coeliac disease (gluten allergy), or cystic fibrosis are associated with inability to gain weight.
THERFORE ,If you struggle to gain weight or suddenly experience unexplained weight loss, consult a medical doctor for a checkup. The doctor will test you for overactive thyroid, malignancies, TB, diabetes mellitus, HIV/Aids, enzyme deficiencies, coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis and any other physical condition that could be hampering weight gain.
In addition, your doctor should be able to pick up if you are depressed or excessively anxious or stressed, and send you for appropriate psychotherapy, or prescribe antidepressants or anxiolytics.
Medical treatment of these illnesses in conjunction with the appropriate diet will assist with weight gain.
Here are tips for gaining weight:
1- Eat and eat often.This doesn't mean eating junk food and sugars, it means lots of protein and carbs.
2- Eat the right kind of fats. Maximise the avocados, dairy products, nuts (including peanut butter), and meats; stay away from ice cream, fries and fatty junk foods.
3- Go high-protein.Protein-rich foods include meat, cheese, milk, fish, and eggs. For vegetarians, protein can be found in soy products such as tofu as well as in combinations of foods, such as rice or corn with beans.
4- Layer on the carbs.
Though they get a bad rap, carbs, too, help build muscle and facilitate all of your vital functions, brown rice, pasta, potatoes and whole grains fall into the approved category.
5- Snack at night.
6- Exercise to gain weight, and gain muscles and after workout eat a protein meal to benefit and have bigger muscles.
So I would suggest that you consult a doctor and a nutritionist ,they will give you the complete plan to increase your weight depending on your age ,weight , and height and medical condition .
A body weight that is considered to be the below the normal recommended weight for the persons height, build and sex. The body mass index is often used as the criteria to determine if a person is within the normal weight range. BMI<20 is generally considered underweight although people outside this range may still be perfectly healthy. People who are underweight may have an increased risk of anemia, heart irregularities and osteoporosis. One of the better known conditions associated with low body weight is anorexia. People who are underweight can find it extremely difficult to put on weight
A person is considered underweight if her body weight drops below a healthy range, as designated by doctors or dietary professionals. In many cases, low body weight is associated with lethargy, trouble regulating body temperature, a weakened immune system and, in severe cases, heart complications. Although some people are genetically prone to carry lower body weight, sudden or drastic drops in a person's weight may indicate serious illness.
Anyone who is 15 to 20% below the normal weight for age and height is classified as underweight.
In real terms, this means that if you are an average woman between the ages of 25 and 50, and you are about 1.63 metres tall, your weight should be approximately 59 kg if you are not underweight.
Being 31 kg at age of 22 years is considered severe underweight your BMI index for sure is low .
CAUSES MIGHT BE :
Underweight can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are psychological, while others are physical.
>> Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland, which produces the hormone thyroxine, is often regarded as the 'conductor' of the body. If your thyroid hormone production is normal, all will be well with your health, metabolism and weight.
If, however, the function of your thyroid gland is disturbed so that it produces too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism and many body functions such a heartbeat, body temperature, etc., will be deranged and you will experience pronounced weight loss.
If you experience sudden weight loss accompanied by any of the above-mentioned symptoms such as goitre, excessive sweating and tiredness, you need to have a medical examination and thyroid function tests.
if you are not taking thyroid medications and your level of TSH as you mentioned in the question then your TSH is normal and this is not your cause .
>>Cancer
Malignancy or cancer can also be associated with rapid weight loss, tiredness, lack of appetite, nausea, and inability to gain weight.
Because malignancies are so serious, it is important to have your doctor give you a thorough examination and have blood and other tests done to determine if you could be suffering from conditions such as leukemia, or other types of cancer.
>Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, or TB, is very common in South Africa. This is a wasting disease that is accompanied by rapid weight loss, coughing, night sweats, tiredness and malaise.
Once again, you urgently need to find out if the weight loss you experience is due to TB, so that you can receive the appropriate treatment.
especially if you traveled lived or someone comes from africa living with you or in contact .
have a TB test.
>>Diabetes
Although many patients with insulin resistance and diabetes tend to suffer from overweight, excessive weight loss, tiredness, excessive thirst and urination, are also symptoms of diabetes.
Patients displaying these symptoms need to have their blood glucose and insulin levels tested to see if they suffer from diabetes. This is particularly significant in families with a hereditary tendency to diabetes.
you might have blood suger test .
>>HIV/Aids
This condition, also initially called 'slim disease', causes pronounced weight loss and hampers weight gain.
If you suspect that you may be living with HIV/Aids and your weight keeps on dropping even when you eat large quantities of food, you should have an HIV test as soon as possible.
With the correct medication and diet, you will be able to halt the progression of this disease and improve your survival rate and quality of life.
>>Besides anorexia and/or bulimia one of the most important causes of underweight is depression.
Patients suffering from depression not only often have a reduced appetite, but they may actively lose weight at an alarming rate. If you have any reason to believe that you may be suffering from depression, it is essential to get help as fast as possible from clinical psychologists or psychiatrists to stop your weight loss.
Other symptoms that may point towards depression are moodiness, tiredness, an overpowering urge to sleep all day, inability to do simple daily tasks, a feeling that 'life is not worth living' and ideas of suicide.
>>Medication – many medicines either suppress appetite or actually cause weight loss. Check with your pharmacist if you have recently started a new medication and now are losing weight without wanting to.
>>Excessive exercise ,you may well be overdoing your exercise sessions to such an extent that your diet cannot keep up with the increased demands.
>>Excessive stress , individuals who are very stressed may stop eating due to a lack of appetite, nausea or being preoccupied with their worries.
>>Enzyme deficiencies ,deficiencies of digestive enzymes and/or stomach acid may also hamper digestion and absorption of food thus causing weight loss.
>>Other medical conditions such as coeliac disease (gluten allergy), or cystic fibrosis are associated with inability to gain weight.
THERFORE ,If you struggle to gain weight or suddenly experience unexplained weight loss, consult a medical doctor for a checkup. The doctor will test you for overactive thyroid, malignancies, TB, diabetes mellitus, HIV/Aids, enzyme deficiencies, coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis and any other physical condition that could be hampering weight gain.
In addition, your doctor should be able to pick up if you are depressed or excessively anxious or stressed, and send you for appropriate psychotherapy, or prescribe antidepressants or anxiolytics.
Medical treatment of these illnesses in conjunction with the appropriate diet will assist with weight gain.
Here are tips for gaining weight:
1- Eat and eat often.This doesn't mean eating junk food and sugars, it means lots of protein and carbs.
2- Eat the right kind of fats. Maximise the avocados, dairy products, nuts (including peanut butter), and meats; stay away from ice cream, fries and fatty junk foods.
3- Go high-protein.Protein-rich foods include meat, cheese, milk, fish, and eggs. For vegetarians, protein can be found in soy products such as tofu as well as in combinations of foods, such as rice or corn with beans.
4- Layer on the carbs.
Though they get a bad rap, carbs, too, help build muscle and facilitate all of your vital functions, brown rice, pasta, potatoes and whole grains fall into the approved category.
5- Snack at night.
6- Exercise to gain weight, and gain muscles and after workout eat a protein meal to benefit and have bigger muscles.
So I would suggest that you consult a doctor and a nutritionist ,they will give you the complete plan to increase your weight depending on your age ,weight , and height and medical condition .
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