Underweight Growth.

 

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When the body weight is decreased by 10% or more below the standard reference weight for the age, sex and height, the body is underweight. The underweight person looks lean and thin and emaciated and is more prone to be afflicted  with the infectious diseases as tuberculosis etc. there is anorexia(loss of appetite) so the main aim in the management of underweight is to improve the appetite.

                                        Main causes of underweight

* Imbalanced diet, inadequacy of proteins in the diet may cause low body weight.

* By wasting diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea, dysentery and cholera etc.

* Excessive fasting, most commonly occurs in women.

* Consumption of food in lesser quantity as occurs in persons who are more active and busy, nervous and tense.

* Aversion to eating.

* Lack of interest in eating and food.

 

* Alteration of taste.

* Psychological factors.

* Marasmus in children.

                                                            Remedies

* Energy: take 50 Kcals to the normal requirement.

Note: requirements of the calories depend upon the activities of the person. If there is excessive intake of high caloric foods, digestive troubles as diarrhea may occur.

* Proteins: take 1.2 to 1.5 gm of proteins per kg.

* Fats: fats as ghee, butter and oils etc. should be increased in the diet as they increase the body weight.

Note: avoid fried foods and the foods containing excess of oil. Because they may cause diarrhea or may lessen the appetite.

* Carbohydrates: take carbohydrate containing food stuffs such as wheat, rice, maize, pulses, underground vegetables as potatoes and sweet potatoes etc.

Note: Take groundnuts, almonds, walnuts and cashewnuts as supplements.

* Vitamins and minerals: not require if you’re taking the above mention.

* Fluids: underweight persons should drink water and other fluids after meals as their consumption before a meal suppresses the appetite.

Take fluids such as fresh fruit juices and soups. These will avoid constipation.

Note: underweight persons should have a good appetite.

         Underweight person should not consume such as beverages as alcohol etc., which suppress the appetite.

                               Methods of improving appetite and so food intake

* Avoid the noxious environmental stimuli as unpleasant sight and foul smell etc.

* Mouth of the underweight person should be cleaned before taking food as it promotes eating.

* Cut the food items into small pieces which promote eating.

* Eat food slowly and should take adequate time in chewing, it also promotes eating.

* There should be no fluid intake during meals. Fluids intake during meals reduces food intake, so fluid intake should be after meals.

* Tasty food promotes eating, so the taste of the foods should be improved.

* Encourage exercise which stimulates appetite.

Please give your valuable comments.