Underweight / cachexia

Underweight is in modern industrialized countries a little noticed health issue, which is paid almost exclusively in the context of eating disorders attention. But not only eating disorders and slimming delusions bring underweight, there are a number of other causes that can lead to weight loss to the point of exhaustion.

Contents:
definition
causes
Decreased food intake
Underweight in organ diseases
Metabolic disorders and hormone system
Increase with means of naturopathy

definition

Underweight is often defined in the literature as body weight, which is 20% below normal weight. From 50%, the weight loss is classified as life-threatening, the poor nutritional status leads to weakness, loss of performance and other symptoms. This extreme condition of underweight and wasting is called cachexia.

To determine the normal weight today, the body mass index (BMI) is used, which according to the formula BMI = Body weight (kg): height2; (M2) calculated or read from tables. After that, underweight is at a BMI of 18.5 or less.

In the calculation of normal, overweight and underweight while size, gender and fat mass, but not the individual constitution are taken into account. There are definitely vital and powerful people who are underweight after the Body Mass Index. The genetic and biological conditions are very individual, people of the same size can differ in bone structure, musculature, urge to move and need for rest. In addition, age and fat distribution play an important role.

To regard the underweight of a person as being in need of treatment is therefore linked to many other factors that must be considered. In addition to accompanying symptoms, it is important to consider the period of weight loss because sudden (unintentional) weight loss may indicate a serious illness. If there is a persistent lack of appetite, it may be a sign of indigestion, but also of stress, mental dysbalance or an impending depression. Similarly, after surviving disease is often underweight, persisting persistently even after recovery.

causes

Underweight arises from a negative energy balance, i. It consumes more energy than it supplies to the body.

Decreased food intake

Decreased food intake or use of food: In prosperous industrialized countries like ours, this is less likely to be due to reduced food intake. Only through extreme diets and anorexia, with dysphagia and persistent lack of appetite occurs this. However, although adequate food availability is available, disturbed nutritional use may lead to underweight in case of misdigestion with lack of digestive juices (dyspepsia) or impaired uptake of nutrients from the intestine (e.g., chronic inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, small intestinal shortening). Even with persistent vomiting or diarrhea, the ingested food can not be sufficiently utilized by the organism.

Underweight in organ diseases

Especially with rapid weight loss with general exhaustion, a serious organ disease can not be ruled out. This is usually helped by additional symptoms that may indicate illnesses such as AIDS (susceptibility to infections, fungal infections), liver cirrhosis (chronic fatigue), renal failure (uremia) or bronchiectasis (cough and sputum). Cancers of all kinds often lead to premature rapid weight loss without further symptoms.

Metabolic disorders and hormone system

Likewise, metabolic disorders and hormonal disorders may cause underweight, such as a derailed diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism. Finally, poisoning of various kinds lead to weight loss, underweight and wasting. This chronic poisoning can be caused, for example, by alcoholism and massive drug abuse by workplace toxins, e.g. in the form of lead poisoning.

Increase with means of naturopathy

If serious disorders and illnesses are the cause, they must first be identified and treated according to their cause. For this, conventional medical help may be necessary. For children, adolescents and adults who tend to underweight their constitution or for people who want to regain their strength in the recovery phase after a disease, naturopathy provides strengthening and tissue-building means.

If the lack of appetite and incorrect digestion are in the foreground, the use of medicinal plants and spices is a good option. Cardamom and coriander stimulate appetite and digestion and artichoke leaves stimulate bile production. The drug of choice is the Condurangorinde (Condurango cortex), which can be used at the same time in conditions of weakness, for appetite stimulation and increased production of digestive juice.

By choosing certain foods you can promote weight gain. In the dietetics of Ayurveda, all foods are assigned flavors and energetic properties. To reduce underweight, these should preferably be sweet, heavy and oily to nourish the body. Rice, cereal and legumes have such qualities and should be eaten frequently. Even figs, dates and almonds increase weight when consumed every day for three to five of them over a longer period of time. As a dietary supplement, the winter cherry (Ashvagandha) is recommended, which is said to be tissue-building.

Are above all bad stress management, inner unrest or similar. responsible for the underweight, inner peace and balance should be strengthened, such as with exercises from yoga, self-hypnosis or autogenic training. (Dipl.Päd. Jeanette Viñals Stein, alternative practitioner)

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