Dear Doctor,
It seems strange while other people want to lose weight that I want to gain weight but I think I really need to gain some weight. I'm 21 years old, male, 5'7", and I weigh only about 100 lbs. So is there any way to gain weight fast? I tried Weight Gainer powder of GNC, but it didn't work. I don't like to eat foods which have fat either.
So if you can help, please answer. Thanks in advance for your help.
REPLY:
There are numerous reasons why you may find it difficult to gain weight. It would be important to exclude several medical reasons which would contribute to your inability to gain weight including metabolic diseases such as an overactive thyroid gland or digestive conditions which could include malabsorption conditions or forms of inflammatory bowel disease (including ileitis [Crohn's disease] or colitis). There are numerous other conditions which might interfere with weight gain but all of these conditions are likely to be easily diagnosed by a physician if you go for a complete physical exam with the usual tests routinely done with such an exam. If nothing abnormal is discovered in your exam or in your bloodtests you can then sit down with your doctor (and perhaps a dietician) to plan a healthy approach to changing your diet to promote weight gain. I would not shoot for rapid weight gain since you're interested in the long term and rapid weight gain may be just as harmful (and difficult to maintain) as rapid weightloss is for others.
--
Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
Click here to review previous
Digestive Clinic consultations