You may be wondering if you’re underweight. Perhaps your parents or friends have also mentioned it.

Use our healthy-weight calculator to check.

A GP, school nurse, or practice nurse can help you underweight.

You may have a medical condition that should be examined. You may not be eating a balanced, healthy diet. Stress or other emotional issues could be the reason.

No matter your situation, it’s best to talk to someone if you are concerned about your weight. Many things can be done.

Why are you so thin?

Our healthy weight calculator may have indicated that you might be underweight. Think about the reasons.

  • Are you feeling unwell?
  • Are you eating healthy, or are you eating fast food?
  • Are you worried or stressed? Have you lost your appetite?
  • Are you trying to lose weight, or have you tried? Do you place more importance on losing weight than maintaining a healthy weight?

Why being underweight matters

Being overweight is bad for your health. This can cause you to have low energy levels and impact your immune system. This could make it easier to catch colds or other infections.

You may also be missing important vitamins and minerals, such as iron and calcium, that you require to grow and develop.

Being underweight can affect your hormones. If your period has not begun yet, it could delay them or cause you to miss some.

With a little bit of help, you can slowly gain weight until your weight is healthy.

What to do if your weight is too low

It is important to gain weight in the right way.

High-calorie foods such as chocolate, cakes, and fizzy drinks are more likely than other foods to increase body fat rather than lean body mass.

  • You can base your meals on starchy carbohydrates like wholemeal pasta, brown rice, or potatoes.
  • At least five portions of fruits and vegetables should be consumed each day.
  • Consume lean protein (lean meat, fish and beans, and pulses).
  • Take in some dairy products or alternatives every day. Whole milk is good until you gain weight.
  • Reduce the amount of saturated fat in foods such as processed meats, pastries, cakes, pastries, and pies. Healthy fats can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, nut kinds of butter, and seeds.
  • Reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and food like ice cream, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, and ice cream.

Healthy ways to lose weight

  • Take the time to eat breakfast. Try porridge with chopped fruit, raisins or mashed avocado on top or eggs on toast.
  • Jacket potatoes with baked beans, tuna or tuna make a nutritious lunch. They are high in both energy-giving carbs and protein.
  • Quick, high-energy snacks include a handful of nuts and toast with unsweetened nut butter.
  • To help you gain weight, try whole-milk yogurts and milky desserts like rice pudding.
  • Try to eat three regular meals per day, with healthy snacks in between.
  • This may increase the amount of food you eat at your mealtimes.

Are you a victim of an eating disorder?

You may have an eating disorder if you are anxious about food or feel like you’re trying to control it.

There are resources available for those who feel they may have an eating disorder. Talk to someone, your parents, carers, a doctor, or any other adult you trust.