Is it bad to be underweight?

[decemberist]

According to bmi calculators I'd only need to gain four kilos to be normalweight ... so I can't really be that much underweight?

I'm not really keen on gaining weight tbh ... would it be a problem if I just stayed that way? What if I lost more weight? At what point would it be dangerous? (I'm not planning on losing any weight, I'm just curious)

[lollipopspot]

That weight at that height is too underweight for an adult male...I just cant imagine that...To put that in perspective, when I was 15 years old, I wrestled at that weight...And I was 5'4" tall then...My bodyfat then at that height was probably 4 or 5% and I was sick the entire season...It was crazy...I am 5'6" and around a solid 216-220 now(about 14%BF)

 

What the heck - we're about the same height and I'm 100 pounds lighter than you are. I don't know if a female can even build the kind of muscle to be 220 at that height and not be obese? Anyone know?

[CrystalCastles]

I'm slightly underweight (5'9" and 116 lbs) and people constantly tell me that I should eat more. But I think I look ok and I feel ok and I'm just not that hungry, so I don't find the idea of eating more appealing.

From a medical viewpoint, is it really necessary to gain weight or can I continue like this as long as I feel ok?

 

People tell me to eat more too. I'm 5'11 and 130 lbs. However, I eat however much I want, and I feel fine. My skin, hair and nails are very healthy. I feel energetic.

 

If you feel great and everything is healthy and if your doctor doesn't have any concerns, I wouldn't worry.

[thefooloftheyear]

What the heck - we're about the same height and I'm 100 pounds lighter than you are. I don't know if a female can even build the kind of muscle to be 220 at that height and not be obese? Anyone know?

 

It would be hard...maybe this woman could?, but I dunno...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGGGIJZP76I

 

 

Might be hard to believe, but I really don't think I look awkward or too bulky at this weight...At around 14% I am def not shredded, but still..Size 32 waist...Decent abs, vascular, etc..people are different..

 

Anyway, I still cant imagine what a 5'9" guy that weighs less than 120 looks like...Have to be skin and bones? I dont know of any guy that is that weight, regardless of height....I even have a guy that works for me that is pretty skinny, but he weighs 135 and is about 5'9" as well...

 

Id still look to put on some lbs if it was me, but hey, if you are healthy and a dr thinks you are ok, then what the hell?

 

TFY

[ASG]

According to bmi calculators I'd only need to gain four kilos to be normalweight ... so I can't really be that much underweight?

I'm not really keen on gaining weight tbh ... would it be a problem if I just stayed that way? What if I lost more weight? At what point would it be dangerous? (I'm not planning on losing any weight, I'm just curious)

 

Well... no... You'd need 4 kg to be on the LOW EDGE of normal. You'd need about 16 to be on the middle range of normal.

 

Like we said before, we don't know if it will be a problem. Low weight leads to many deficiencies, like potassium.

If you've read my first post, about my step sister, you'd know some of the problems that can arise. I don't know exact measurements for her, but she's about 1,65/1,70 and weighs about 45kg. She's now in and out of hospital and her life is at risk due to potassium deficiency and, now, kidney failure.

 

You need to do a check up, to see if your levels are good or not. If they are, then, I guess you might be fine. If they're not, you need to put on weight or risk severe health problems.

[Els]

Your BMI is 17.0, so that in itself is unlikely to be a problem.

 

You just have to make sure you're getting enough nutrition. Even if you 'don't feel like eating', you need a certain amount of balanced and nutritious food daily. If you make sure you have that (and your tests at a doc come back fine) I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.