My stomach is full. Linda aligns. And Linda is not alone. By the way, she is the only one whose low-calorie meals I see on Facebook every day. Enjoy your meal, Lin † It only gets really ironic when I see a post by a bone-thin model under Linda Nieuws's message. So that also exists. underweight. Don't be too quick to judge:underweight can have many causes. You know that if you've dealt with it. Yet the vast majority of the Dutch have not eaten cheese. And we can count ourselves lucky for that. But there are also a lot of people for whom being underweight is just as much of a problem as those extra pounds are for many others. You can read more about it here.
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Whether you can speak of underweight depends on many factors. As soon as you weigh so little that it becomes harmful to your health, you are in any case considered to be problematic underweight. Whether you are underweight can be calculated with the BMI, just like with overweight. Please note:this is only a rough indication! If you are really afraid that your weight is too low, visit your doctor.
You calculate your BMI as follows. Your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared is your Body Mass Index. But when is it underweight? On some sites I read that this is the case with an outcome lower than 18.5. Elsewhere I read that the measure for underweight is an outcome of 17. So a lot of uncertainty. If in doubt, just consult your doctor or a nutritionist. The Body Mass Index does not apply to children anyway. A different standard is used for them.
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Although you may not immediately think of underweight when you think of Dutch children, there are certainly children who struggle with it. Children who don't like it much, for example, and who on the other hand jump around all day. Add to that the growth, which kids can use some energy with. Conclusion:children need a lot of energy and building materials. If they get too little through their diet, this can lead to underweight.
Malnutrition in children is an especially serious problem. A heavy term, which does not mean that you give them too little food! It is important to let your children eat as varied as possible. Yes, they also ate with a pancake, but they really only grow in width. Proteins, vitamins and minerals are really important for a growing child. Still having trouble getting your child to eat? Then you can go through these tips for dinner with children. If you have any advice of your own, feel free to share it! However, do not underestimate the problem:if you really fear that your child is underweight, ask your doctor or GGD for advice.
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As I said before, don't judge too quickly. The term underweight or malnutrition is often associated with an eating disorder † After all, we live in a rich country full of well-stocked supermarkets. And indeed, anorexia or bulimia can be the terrible cause of being underweight. However, an eating disorder is not always the reason for being too low in weight. If an eating disorder is the cause of the problem, seek professional help.
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One of the main reasons why it is smart to see a doctor if you are underweight is physical problems. All kinds of ailments can be the cause of your low weight. Do you walk every day and can't gain weight? Then stomach or intestinal problems for example, could be the cause of your weight not gaining. Your GP can look into this for you.
Okay, now it gets a little complicated. The metabolism , you've probably heard of that. The resting metabolism is the minimum amount of energy the body needs when no effort is being made. Consumption when you are stationary, so to speak. And that differs per person. The resting metabolism is regulated in your thyroid gland. If you have a high resting metabolism, you use more energy – even if you do nothing. As a result, your body needs more energy than the average person.
There are even a lot of people who have already gone through the entire medical process, and for whom the cause of underweight is not established † And in that case you only have one choice:don't worry too much and try to gain as much weight as possible. Not during a diet, but for the rest of your life. That probably sounds like a dream to some (like Linda de Mol 😉), but it's not much fun.
Being underweight can lead to unpleasant complaints. And some of them you notice, but others affect you inside. Conclusion:underweight is a problem not to be underestimated. The scale and your BMI can tell you everything:they are numbers. Worried that your weight is too low? These are the symptoms from which you can infer that, among other things.
When you are underweight, your body can no longer function optimally. This applies to your body, but also to your mind. You feel tired, listless and may become dizzy. Your condition is deteriorating. Malnutrition can even make you feel depressed. Meanwhile, your body is consuming on your reserves. You're getting skinny, your bones are sticking out. Due to your lack of fat, you get cold quickly. You look pale, your hair becomes thinner and falls out faster. And a lot is happening internally as well. You are more likely to break bones due to osteoporosis, and in the long run even your muscles, heart, kidneys and liver are affected.
The first tip, of course, always remains:go to the doctor. Still, there's a chance that even that won't find a cause for your underweight. If you have a higher (resting) metabolism than average, for example. Does your weight remain too low, no matter what you 'work' in? Then you can still try these tips.
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