QUESTION: Could you please give me advice on how to put on lots of weight in a short period of time, or any contraceptives that would guarantee weight gain?
I’ve been a size 26-28 all my life and I’m really not happy with my appearance. I had two kids and still didn’t pick up any weight.
ANSWER: It certainly seems peculiar to many of us that someone would want to gain weight, as most of us are entangled in the quest for weight loss and, eventually, weight management.
I think we should start by understanding that people should be built according to two main factors – the skeletal structure’s size and composition and its ability to carry weight in the form of muscle.
The second is that your build and body composition should be fine-tuned for the type of activity you perform daily, like the well-known stereotypical body shapes and characteristics for sprinters versus middle and long-distance runners.
The body should be developed to optimise the power/weight ratio – a favourite coffee conversation topic for many cyclists.
Your letter did not state your height, and it seems that despite giving birth and all the physiological changes that go with that, you remain a slightly built person.
For many women giving birth is not an excuse to gain weight. It is more often the lifestyle change, stress and lack of routine and time for self that leads to prolonged periods of obesity post-delivery.
The same mentality can be blamed for motivating that one can eat unhealthily or in excessive volumes because you are training. It catches up to you, so the nutritional value of what you eat remains important.
You should look at your parents and family and see if there is a genetic tendency to be small.
Other than cosmetic appearances, do you feel physically ill or suffer from fatigue? Does your build limit you in performing tasks at home or work? These are crucial issues and a good physical examination by a physician is important. During this time we look for symptoms in a detailed history, as well as signs of malnutrition, systemic illnesses like hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus.
There are many possible reasons why some people can eat loads and not pick up weight, ranging from metabolic to genetic causes and also cancers.
The take-home message is to act promptly when there is massive weight loss over a short period of time, also if your physical ability decreases with the weight loss. Remember that weight gain at all costs is never good. Eating habits and diet must be scrutinised, checking things like calorie intake and frequency of meals.
I found it most useful when my dietician told me to review the role of food in our lives.
Ask yourself, do you eat for leisure, pleasure or to source fuel for your machine body?- Cape Argus
* Dr Darren Green, a trusted figure in the field of media medicine, is a University of Stellenbosch graduate who adds innovative spark to health and wellness issues.
He features on 567CapeTalk, and is a regular guest on SABC3 and the Expresso show. Dr Green works as an emergency medical practitioner at a leading Cape Town hospital and completed four years of training as a registrar in the specialisation of neurology.
If you’ve got medical problems, contact the doctor at [email protected], 021 930 0655 or Twitter @drdarrengreen. Catch him in Cape Town on 567 CapeTalk, most Fridays at 1.30pm.
The advice in this column does not replace a consultation and clinical evaluation with a doctor.