Am I Underweight?

Do you have a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 or less (BMI represent your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters)?

Are you prone to infections or often feel ill (you frequently have flu or a seasonal cold)?

Do you often feel very tired only by doing your daily activities?

Do you feel urge to sleep at all times?

Do you have a diagnosis of anemia?

Does your hair appear thinner or you have noticed an excessive hair loss (your hair fallout in chunks while brushing or showering)?

Have you noticed that your eyebrows or eyelashes are losing their thickness?

If you are a woman, do you have irregular menstrual periods?

If you are a woman who wants to get pregnant, do you have problems conceiving?

Do you feel cold even when you are in warm environments?

Do you have veiny arms or does it seem to you that your bones and your joints may appear more prominent?

Have you noticed that your bones break easily?

Do you have trouble to find time to have a healthy, balanced diet with regular meals?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you are underweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people with body mass index (BMI) lower than 18.5 are categorized as underweight.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you are underweight. Being underweight can cause serious damage to your health. It must be said that BMI is not a diagnostic measure, but a screening tool for the assessment of your weight. If you have a BMI below 18.5, you should talk to your doctor who will do additional tests to evaluate your weight and possible health risks. Your doctor may conclude that you need to gain weight to improve your health. A doctor or registered dietitian can create a personalized diet plan with healthy fats, grains and good sources of protein to increase your calorie intake.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you are underweight. There are many reasons for being underweight and it is best to talk about it with your doctor. Low body weight can be the result of stress or depression, thyroid and digestive problems, or medication. But sometimes people can be underweight due to genetics, high levels of activity or simply not eating enough. When serious medical conditions are ruled out, your doctor will recommend gaining weight by increasing your calories intake through nutritious and healthy food. A personalized meal plan can help you build a strong and healthy body.