Too Thin? Oh Yeah

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

15 Mar 2006 01:00 PM

Believe it or not, there really is such a thing as too thin. It's a little talked about issue in fitness because of the love affair with obesity. But people can be too thin. There are plenty of examples out there of men and women alike that literally can't put on weight.

They can work out. They can life weights. They can do all the right things. But they still don't gain weight nor can they bulk up. Low weight, underweight and too thin people face health risks just as those who are overweight or obese do.

More often than not - we dismiss the too thin issue as: we wish we had your problem.

It's also dismissed with a flimsy - just eat more.

Of course, when someone who is too thin eats more it often doesn't do him or her any good. Their metabolisms simply burn too high. Imagine being able to consume 8,000 calories a day and not putting on weight. Imagine having to eat as much as 8 to 10 meals per day in order to put on weight.

It seems phenomenal to imagine that in a world where obesity is trumpeted from the top of every headline - why is it that we don't see more on how the little people are battling? Why do we not worry about the health risks to their fitness because of such low body weight? Why don't we feel some sympathy for their plight?

Because we really do wish we had their problem. We think too thin has to be better than too fat. But they have their own problems. They do not look good in bathing suits. They are too skinny. They do not fill out their clothes. They suffer the derogatory remarks of their peers and the suggestions that they have eating disorders.

Being too thin isn't a crime. It is a health problem. It's as much a fitness issue as having too much weight. If you have a problem with being too thin, don't be discouraged. It takes time to build muscle that can add weight. What's more important to recognize than the numbers on the scale is the level of physical fitness you have.

Work with your physician and a personal trainer - they can help you develop the program that can help you help yourself. Watch out for false promises of fast results.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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