What steps should I take to gain weight and look healthy?

Hi

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I know I understand why this is concerning to you, especially because you are feeling weak and have not been able to gain weight, despite your efforts. You are quite underweight given your height and weight, so it is important to look at possible reasons rather than just eating more.

Common causes include inadequate caloric intake and malabsorption secondary to gut problems such as:

• Gastritis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Chronic infections.
• Hyperthyroidism (thyroid problems).
• Stress.
• Anxiety.

All these have an effect on appetite and digestion. Since you mention a weak stomach, things like food intolerance or malabsorption might be involved.

The best thing to do is to go to your doctor for a basic workup that includes:

• Bloodwork.
• Thyroid function.
• Stool tests (if necessary).

In the meantime, you can start to gently improve your nutrition by eating small, frequent meals that are easy to digest, such as rice, eggs, yogurt, bananas, and soft-cooked vegetables, and slowly add calorie-dense foods like nuts, peanut butter, milk, and healthy oils.

Try to get some protein in at each meal and think about some light strength exercises when your energy improves, as this helps build healthy weight rather than just fat. If you have sensitive digestion, at first avoid very spicy or greasy foods and eat slowly. With the right evaluation and a steady plan, most people in your situation can safely gain weight and feel stronger over time.

I hope you like the answer that I have written.

Thanks.