Excessive Weight Loss: Chronic Underweight

A chronic condition of sub-optimal weight for your height can cause a variety of health problems.

Chronic lack of weight is a signal that undesirable conditions may be developing. The other side of the coin is that acute conditions often cause sudden excessive weight loss.

Causes

Short Term Weight Loss

¨ Infections

¨ Auto-immune diseases

¨ Allergies

¨ Stress or bereavement

¨ Loss of appetite

Long Term Underweight

¨ Digestive insufficiency

¨ Malabsorption syndromes:

a) Crohn's disease or colitis

b) Coeliac disease

c) Candidiasis

¨ Over-active thyroid

¨ Excess caffeine (coffee, cola etc.)

¨ Excess energy output

¨ Chronically low appetite; zinc deficiency

¨ Emotional Problems (depression, anxiety, anorexia, bulimia)

Treatment

Short Term Weight Loss

The most usual cause of excessive weight loss in the short term is infection, or any disease condition which involves the immune system, such as auto-immune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

At any time when the immune system is under strain, it draws heavily on the two groups of materials it uses. These are its fuel, consisting of amino acids, mostly L-glutamine, and micro-nutrients which are essential to it, namely vitamin A, zinc, vitamin C and the B complex of vitamins.

L-glutamine is the main fuel of the immune system, but it is also the predominant constituent of tissues, particularly muscle. When extra L-glutamine is required by the immune system, it is drawn from the tissues, causing tissue breakdown and weight loss.

Similarly, the micro-nutrients mentioned above are enlisted for the battle and are therefore not available for their normal functions. Vitamin A and zinc are important in the build-up of muscles and bones, B vitamins are important for the conversion of proteins into tissue, and vitamin C is the main vitamin involved in collagen synthesis. Loss of these nutrients prevents the rebuilding of body tissues. Zinc is also important for appetite.

The treatment, nutritionally, consists of supplying in greater than normal amounts these substances which are being used by the immune system. Botanical (herbal) aids for the immune system also help by shortening the battle, and reducing the drain on nutrients.

The supplements needed are therefore as follows:

A. Botanical

Cats Claw; this is probably the most versatile of all herbs for all varieties of immune system problems, from all types of infection to allergies. In acute situations, it can be used at levels up to six grams per day.

Oregon Grape; has very powerful antibacterial and antifungal effects. Also has healing effects on tissues in direct contact with outside substances, such as respiratory and intestinal surfaces.

B. Nutritional

Chronic Underweight

There are so many possible causes for this condition that the treatment needs tailoring to each individual. However, certain supplements are needed in almost every case. There will almost always be a shortage of zinc, the B vitamins and vitamin A, whether the cause be poor digestion, malabsorption or excessive activity or metabolic rate. Shortage of vitamins will also produce impaired digestion.

¨ Zinc; 30-35mg per day - it may be advisable to take up to 90mg per day for a week or two.

Also in every case, coffee and cola should be avoided totally, and tea limited to four cups per day. Junk foods should be replaced by wholefoods, fruit and vegetables.

When the background cause of chronic underweight is known, such as Crohn's disease, colitis or candidiasis, then appropriate action needs to be taken to overcome the problem.

One point needs to be made. There are a large number of weight-gaining products on the market, mainly aimed at bodybuilders and athletes. The best of these are designed to increase muscle and healthy tissue rather than fat. Some cheaper weight gainers are high in sugar and fat and will put on weight as fat.

The best of these products are very good, and will produce results for people in a good nutritional status and doing the correct form of exercise.

However, for people to whom this description does not apply, the weight-gaining powders may actually make matters worse, especially those powders that don't have added vitamins and minerals or don't have at least part of their protein pre-digested. The reason is that digestion and metabolism of protein in particular does require vitamins and minerals, and if these don't come with the food or supplement, then there will be depletion of the body's reserves.