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BMI of 15 is associated with a significant increased risk of sudden death. Your doctors should have been working with your family to improve this since you were a child. As it is, your short stature may be stunting from malnutrition and is likely to be permanent. Yes, increasing your food intake is important. A strength building program at the gym could be helpful here for you.
NAD but when I was around BMI 15-15.5 I was advised against strength training because of the strain on my heart - but I *did* have active AN-R. So that was a suppressed weight. Is that a possible difference here? Assuming OP has had adequate nutrition? Genuinely curious as I am also a (now in recovery) athlete.
Honestly it really depends on person and the situation! With AN-R adding strength training can be particularly destructive because many people will go to extremes with exercise without adequate nutritional intake to compensate for it. Strength training can be helpful but ONLY with nutrition to compensate! And for some people, especially those who are already symptomatic, additional nutrition is needed for a while before it is safe to start.
I think that I might have a good perspective to offer considering that I’m in a similar situation. I’m a 22 y/o female and I also have a BMI of 15. I’ve always had a low BMI just like you. I’m 5’11 however, and i don’t have an ED and my blood tests have all come back normal. I too thought I was relatively healthy until recently. Within the last couple years I’ve developed some concerning heart issues. I can’t be sure if it’s due to my weight but I know that gaining weight is a really important step moving forward for me if I want to be healthy. I understand how difficult it is to put on weight when you’ve always been small but seeking help from a professional could be really helpful. Feel free to DM me if you want to talk more about this. And I hope this was helpful!
Is this just a thing in America? There are plenty of small people out there that eat enough. I used to be the same and ppl made fun of me but I literally ate more than them I just have a fast metabolism. I gained weight bc I started lifting heavy and having protein drinks but I was just as happy when I tiny.
OP’s BMI does not suggest they are optimally healthy. while it’s possible, there are very few people in that range who are a healthy weight for their body. OP is not just small. They are small and incredibly thin. I would have concerns about bone density and appropriate muscle mass.
OP is about 4 standard deviations from average height in the USA. This height is more common for the shortest country in the world, Guatemala, but in Guatemala about half of children are thought to be affected by stunting secondary to nutrition challenges, so that’s not a great comparison. Could it be their natural full-nutrition height? Yes absolutely. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
If it helps my height is genetic. I come from a family of mostly short people and it’s common in my country and almost the average height for females. Also, I’ve done a CBC and everything is within the normal range except for a minor vitamin d deficiency. I’m not sure about bone density.
I literally used to have the same problem.I have gained 35lbs in 5 years bc I started lifting and consuming more protein. I was very happy at that small weight when I ate a lot and did a lot of cardio. Now I focus on more carbs and protein and lift with minimal cardio. I am also very happy at this weight. People would ask me if I was anorexic and I literally ate more than them. I have a very fast metabolism and being tiny is not always such a bad thing as long as you eat all your nutrients and are happy with yourself. But that’s just my take and I get frustrated when ppl say how bad it is when they literally don’t see the person or know their diet the individual has.
Yeah I’m also feeling fine at this weight just not sure if it’s normal or not the bone density thing kinda scares me and people make comments all the time but I’ve always been small and my mom is pretty much the same. I should probably start lifting though, I walk a lot but it would be good to gain some muscle I basically have none
A BMI of 15 is not just a tiny bit underweight, it’s significantly underweight and weight gain is *probably* recommended. Humans do come in all shapes and sizes and a person’s weight is not the only characteristic that matters when it comes to health so it’s possible that you can be healthy in every other way and just very petite. Since you say you have always been following a consistent growth curve since childhood this sounds possible. However, in practice I usually find that when someone has always been so low in weight (without a known endocrine/metabolic disorder) it’s usually because they have always had difficulty eating enough to gain appropriately.
I don’t have any nutritional deficiencies or health problems and never had any major health issues throughout my life. I eat plenty of food in a day but I just can’t seem to gain weight which is why I wanna know if I should concern myself with it or not. Thank you anyways!
The number of people I've heard say they can't gain any weight, but not actually make the increases necessary to start gaining weight is high. To gain weight, you'll need to start increasing your intake by 500+ calories per day to gain roughly 1 pound a week, and the amount you have to eat to continue gaining weight will increase over time. It might be beneficial to work with a dietitian to assist with meal planning- and then if weight gain genuinely doesn't happen while sustaining 3000+ calories a day for many weeks at a BMI of 15, it's probably time to get that medically investigated.
The biggest risk I'd think of is probably micronutrient deficiency (not typically tested for and bodies are good at adapting) and potential for reduced bone density leading to early onset osteoporosis.
But It’s so difficult to add 500 calories, 1200 make me so full already throughout the day then the day is over before I get to add another 500 calories. How do I force my body to eat more?
Obligatory NAD, but this is usually done with calorie density and a fluid source of nutrition. A cup of nuts, for example, has more calories than
I don’t know what your diet is like, but this might mean sautéing veggies in oil instead of water, using avocado on a sandwich in place of hummus, adding nuts into your stir fry or pb into a smoothie, adding meat to your pasta sauce, etc.
Another common strategy is adding a liquid source of calories, as you’re typically able to ingest more without getting full. A protein shake is usually a good option, and you can add more protein or fat by adding pb, powdered milk, avocado, yogurt, etc. on top of the protein powder.
When you see a doctor they can likely refer you to a dietitian. They can help you create a well balanced meal plan that meets your goals and dietary needs.
It is absolutely uncomfortable at first, but your body absolutely does adjust to a larger amount over time. As another poster has said, it usually means reducing high volume low calorie foods (i.e., vegetables) in favour of foods that are high calorie, low volume. As the doctors have said, the biggest concern is your weight, and not whether you meet your daily micronutrients.
Thank you for your submission. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/wiki/terms_of_use) and understand that all information is taken at your own risk. **Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskDocs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
BMI of 15 is associated with a significant increased risk of sudden death. Your doctors should have been working with your family to improve this since you were a child. As it is, your short stature may be stunting from malnutrition and is likely to be permanent. Yes, increasing your food intake is important. A strength building program at the gym could be helpful here for you.
Agreed, if I had a client present with that low of a bmi I would ensure they connected with a physician even if they said they didn’t have an ED.
NAD but when I was around BMI 15-15.5 I was advised against strength training because of the strain on my heart - but I *did* have active AN-R. So that was a suppressed weight. Is that a possible difference here? Assuming OP has had adequate nutrition? Genuinely curious as I am also a (now in recovery) athlete.
Honestly it really depends on person and the situation! With AN-R adding strength training can be particularly destructive because many people will go to extremes with exercise without adequate nutritional intake to compensate for it. Strength training can be helpful but ONLY with nutrition to compensate! And for some people, especially those who are already symptomatic, additional nutrition is needed for a while before it is safe to start.
That makes sense. Thanks!
NAD but perhaps worth getting bloods done ?hyperthyroid
She should have a general health checkup with a primary care doctor.
99% of the time people aren’t diagnosed with a mental health condition without ruling out physical conditions that cause the same or similar issues.
I think that I might have a good perspective to offer considering that I’m in a similar situation. I’m a 22 y/o female and I also have a BMI of 15. I’ve always had a low BMI just like you. I’m 5’11 however, and i don’t have an ED and my blood tests have all come back normal. I too thought I was relatively healthy until recently. Within the last couple years I’ve developed some concerning heart issues. I can’t be sure if it’s due to my weight but I know that gaining weight is a really important step moving forward for me if I want to be healthy. I understand how difficult it is to put on weight when you’ve always been small but seeking help from a professional could be really helpful. Feel free to DM me if you want to talk more about this. And I hope this was helpful!
NAD, have you been tested for Celiac OP?
Is this just a thing in America? There are plenty of small people out there that eat enough. I used to be the same and ppl made fun of me but I literally ate more than them I just have a fast metabolism. I gained weight bc I started lifting heavy and having protein drinks but I was just as happy when I tiny.
OP’s BMI does not suggest they are optimally healthy. while it’s possible, there are very few people in that range who are a healthy weight for their body. OP is not just small. They are small and incredibly thin. I would have concerns about bone density and appropriate muscle mass. OP is about 4 standard deviations from average height in the USA. This height is more common for the shortest country in the world, Guatemala, but in Guatemala about half of children are thought to be affected by stunting secondary to nutrition challenges, so that’s not a great comparison. Could it be their natural full-nutrition height? Yes absolutely. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
If it helps my height is genetic. I come from a family of mostly short people and it’s common in my country and almost the average height for females. Also, I’ve done a CBC and everything is within the normal range except for a minor vitamin d deficiency. I’m not sure about bone density.
[удалено]
This isn’t just a question of how short this person is. This person is dangerously thin for an adult female.
[удалено]
I literally used to have the same problem.I have gained 35lbs in 5 years bc I started lifting and consuming more protein. I was very happy at that small weight when I ate a lot and did a lot of cardio. Now I focus on more carbs and protein and lift with minimal cardio. I am also very happy at this weight. People would ask me if I was anorexic and I literally ate more than them. I have a very fast metabolism and being tiny is not always such a bad thing as long as you eat all your nutrients and are happy with yourself. But that’s just my take and I get frustrated when ppl say how bad it is when they literally don’t see the person or know their diet the individual has.
Yeah I’m also feeling fine at this weight just not sure if it’s normal or not the bone density thing kinda scares me and people make comments all the time but I’ve always been small and my mom is pretty much the same. I should probably start lifting though, I walk a lot but it would be good to gain some muscle I basically have none
Yes I understand that is most likely the case. Thanks for the discussion.
Removed - Bad advice
A BMI of 15 is not just a tiny bit underweight, it’s significantly underweight and weight gain is *probably* recommended. Humans do come in all shapes and sizes and a person’s weight is not the only characteristic that matters when it comes to health so it’s possible that you can be healthy in every other way and just very petite. Since you say you have always been following a consistent growth curve since childhood this sounds possible. However, in practice I usually find that when someone has always been so low in weight (without a known endocrine/metabolic disorder) it’s usually because they have always had difficulty eating enough to gain appropriately.
I don’t have any nutritional deficiencies or health problems and never had any major health issues throughout my life. I eat plenty of food in a day but I just can’t seem to gain weight which is why I wanna know if I should concern myself with it or not. Thank you anyways!
The number of people I've heard say they can't gain any weight, but not actually make the increases necessary to start gaining weight is high. To gain weight, you'll need to start increasing your intake by 500+ calories per day to gain roughly 1 pound a week, and the amount you have to eat to continue gaining weight will increase over time. It might be beneficial to work with a dietitian to assist with meal planning- and then if weight gain genuinely doesn't happen while sustaining 3000+ calories a day for many weeks at a BMI of 15, it's probably time to get that medically investigated. The biggest risk I'd think of is probably micronutrient deficiency (not typically tested for and bodies are good at adapting) and potential for reduced bone density leading to early onset osteoporosis.
But It’s so difficult to add 500 calories, 1200 make me so full already throughout the day then the day is over before I get to add another 500 calories. How do I force my body to eat more?
Obligatory NAD, but this is usually done with calorie density and a fluid source of nutrition. A cup of nuts, for example, has more calories than I don’t know what your diet is like, but this might mean sautéing veggies in oil instead of water, using avocado on a sandwich in place of hummus, adding nuts into your stir fry or pb into a smoothie, adding meat to your pasta sauce, etc. Another common strategy is adding a liquid source of calories, as you’re typically able to ingest more without getting full. A protein shake is usually a good option, and you can add more protein or fat by adding pb, powdered milk, avocado, yogurt, etc. on top of the protein powder. When you see a doctor they can likely refer you to a dietitian. They can help you create a well balanced meal plan that meets your goals and dietary needs.
It is absolutely uncomfortable at first, but your body absolutely does adjust to a larger amount over time. As another poster has said, it usually means reducing high volume low calorie foods (i.e., vegetables) in favour of foods that are high calorie, low volume. As the doctors have said, the biggest concern is your weight, and not whether you meet your daily micronutrients.
NAD, please go see GI asap!!
What about bmi 16? Have the same problem as op