It may seem like the media focuses almost exclusively on those who are overweight and their plight to lose fat, but what about those who are underweight and unable to gain?

Being underweight, no matter what the high fashion industry says can be as dangerous and detrimental to your health as being obese. While there is no one size fits all standard weight you should be, falling into the healthy range can help keep your body running the way it is designed to.

It is important to take into account body composition. Muscle weighs more than fat. Two people can be the same height and weight and look nothing alike physically.

Fortunately, in most cases being underweight is easy to address through dietary alterations and an exercise plan, as long as the signs are recognized in time.

Warning Signs that Your Weight is Affecting Your Health

You get sick and catch colds frequently. Being underweight can weaken your immune system leaving you more susceptible to the germs, bacteria, and viruses. Your body may have a harder time recovering from these bouts of illness as well.

Body temperature regulation. When you’re underweight, oxygen flow slows down throughout your body, and it can make you feel cold even when you are in warm places. When you are underweight you tend to have a low body fat percentage. Fat is there to serve as a protective layer for warmth.

You are often and easily fatigued. Those who are underweight often don’t eat enough, and as a result they miss out on many of the vital nutrients and vitamins that are needed for good health. When your body lacks vitamin B and iron, anemia can develop. This can result in poor concentration, a lack of focus, low energy, and brain fog.

Hair loss. Your body needs protein and nutrients to maintain a healthy level of hair growth. While it’s normal for adults to lose a small amount of hair each day, if you notice hair loss on your head or body, it can be due to the low weight.

Mood Swings. Weight loss can heavily impact your body’s hormones, especially in women, and this fluctuation can result in an increase in irritability and moodiness. In extreme cases, being underweight can even lead to anxiety and depression if left untreated for too long.

Missed periods for women. If you are a woman, missing your period can be one of the first and most obvious signs that you are underweight. This is because when your body lacks body fat, it has trouble producing the hormone estrogen, a sex hormone which helps to regulate the reproductive cycle in women.

Heart Issues. Being underweight can produce profound effects on the heart and circulation. When Heart muscle is lost the heart is becomes weak. Blood pressure drops and the heart rate slows. This elevates the level of risk for irregular heartbeats and other issues.

At Tampa Cardiovascular Associates, we are proud to offer an onsite nutritionist to address any of your concerns about either weight loss or weight gain. To schedule an appointment, please contact us today by calling (813) 975-2800. www.tampacardio.com.