There’s a popular saying that goes “You can never be too rich or too thin.” We don’t know about the rich part, but, yes, there is such a thing as being too thin. In a society where thinness is revered, it’s entirely possible to overdo things and lose too much weight, and there are health penalties for doing so.
Studies have shown that a person who is somewhat overweight, but not obese, can actually enjoy better health than someone who is too thin.
A thin person might look healthy and fit, since overweight is more likely to be correlated with health problems in the minds of others, including doctors. Thin people are frequently told how healthy and attractive they look, and how lucky they are. Because of this, a thin person might think they can get away with eating poorly or engaging in unhealthful practices because the results aren’t immediately visible.
Also, thinner people may carry their fat where it doesn’t show but can cause problems, such as around the heart or liver; this is especially the case for men.
How thin is too thin?
The usual measure of how thin or overweight you are is the body mass index, or BMI. BMI tables are readily available online; you need only to plug in your height and weight. BMI calculations are sometimes faulty, since neither muscularity nor fat distribution are taken into account, but they are somewhat useful. Generally, a BMI of 18.5 or below is considered to be underweight, a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is normal weight, and above 25 is overweight.
Why are you too thin?
There are a number of reasons why you might be thinner than optimal. If it’s genetic, and most people in your family are slender, you probably have nothing to worry about health-wise related to your weight. But many people become thin for reasons that are less than healthy. Some people deny themselves food to an extreme (anorexia nervosa) or force themselves to purge food they’ve eaten (bulimia), both of which can be dangerous or even deadly. Some people smoke to keep their weight down, and the negative effects of smoking are worse than those of moderate overweight. Some people have little appetite, or can barely taste their food due to a deficiency of the mineral zinc. Some serious illnesses such as cancer and AIDS are known for their severe weight loss. A major symptom of a hyperactive thyroid is weight loss. If health issues are keeping you from gaining weight or causing you to lose it, the underlying cause should be dealt with.
Reproductive
A woman’s menstrual cycle can become irregular when her weight dips too low, and this can keep her from conceiving or maintaining a pregnancy. If she does get pregnant, the underweight woman is more likely to experience severe nausea during the pregnancy. It has also been shown that men who are too thin can also have problems with fertility and sperm quality.
Bones
Osteoporosis, along with the increased likelihood of broken bones, is more likely to be found in people who are underweight. This is especially the case for women, who have smaller bones to begin with. A certain amount of body fat is necessary to make the hormone estrogen, which helps to make bones denser. Also, bones need to carry weight to remain strong; the less body weight they’re carrying, the weaker they’re likely to be unless weight-bearing exercise is done regularly.
Nervous system
The nervous system relies on the fatty myelin sheath which insulates the nerves. When myelin is insufficient, problems with nerve transmission can develop. Multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the myelin, is more common in thin people, who may lack sufficient body fat to properly make myelin. And without sufficient myelin, toxins can attack the nervous system, causing further problems.
Toxins
Many toxins are fat-soluble. If you have plenty of body fat, this can help to dilute or store the toxins to lessen their damage. If you don’t have enough body fat, the toxins are more likely to cause health problems, including chemical sensitivity.
Immune system
Underweight can contribute to a poorly functioning immune system, which in turn is responsible for an increased incidence of infections and autoimmune diseases.
Inflammation, which can be a factor in illnesses ranging from arthritis to heart disease to diabetes to lung problems, is more likely in those who are underweight.
Fatigue
Fatigue is often found among the underweight, especially if the underweight is due to low food intake. Insufficient nutrition can cause anemia or other deficiency diseases, which in turn can cause fatigue.
Mental health
Depression is found in a higher percentage of underweight people. It was found that underweight men were significantly more likely to attempt suicide. One theory is that those who are underweight produce less of the feel-good neurochemical serotonin.
When to worry
If you’ve always been slender, especially if it appears to be genetic, and your weight is mostly stable, you probably have nothing to worry about. But any weight loss that isn’t desired or isn’t the result of dieting or another external explanation could be a sign of an underlying problem.
A happy medium
If you have trouble losing weight, don’t take these facts as an excuse to remain heavy. Overweight and underweight both have their down sides. The best weight to strive for is a moderate weight and a BMI between 18.5 and 25. The best way to achieve this is through healthful eating, moderate exercise, and addressing of any health problems that keep your weight out of the ideal zone.
To be continued…
The next article to be published on this website discusses how to gain weight.
