Q: Please Doc, I need to add some weight and at least have appetite for food. What can I use? Secondly I’m prone to cold. Sometimes, I take Procold…I don’t know if that’s advisable.

A: With the adoption of western lifestyle, obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases like Diabetes and Hypertension are on the increase. Many people are now looking for ways to reduce weight and live healthier. Both actual and virtual forms of exercise or weight reduction programs abound.

Ironically, here you are asking for how to add some weight. I can almost say, you are so lucky! However I had to caution myself, considering there may be other circumstances surrounding your request.

First, your weight or how you see it may not be a true reflection of your health status. A slim, tall man, may be healthier than a thick, stocky counterpart. Also, a fat, rounded person, who is tall and exercising regularly, with no other risk factors, may be healthier than an average height, full-bodied individual. A more objective measurement is the body mass index, which makes use of your height and weight and categories if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese.

So, I would advice before you start adding on the weight, do check your BMI and see a doctor who can help rule out other health issues that may be contributing to ‘low weight’. For your appetite, I would advise you eat only when you are hungry, eat an appetizer like carrots, or fruit salad before meals, avoid drinking water or fluids before meals, this will fill up your stomach and reduce the quantity of food you can consume. I wouldn’t really encourage that you take medications to boost your appetite, as these could have effects on the brain and general functioning of the body. Let your doctor advice you as to whether you need to take these or not.
To add on weight, eat foods that are balanced in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Proteins are excellent for body building and help in cell growth and repair. Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, legumes, milk, and other diary produce are excellent examples. Focus on quality and not quantity. The rule is divide your plate into 3 parts, ½ of it should be a protein diet, ¼ carbohydrate or fats (unsaturated), and the remaining ¼ should be vegetables and fruits. Eat more frequently, and never skip meals. If you must snack, choose snacks like nuts, dried fruits, crackers or crunchy vegetables and fruits. Eat before bed time, never go to bed on an empty stomach.

It’s important to monitor your weight from time to time and also exercise (note, exercise is not just for weight reduction, it’s for physical fitness too). As much as you can, avoid physical and emotional stress.

Being prone to recurrent colds, may be due to an allergic condition in which you are highly sensitive to certain substances like cold environment, dust, smoke, perfumes, strong smells etc. It usually starts as an episode of sneezing and later a blocked/ dripping nose. It may be a problem with the immune system, where the body isn’t strong enough to fight against infections. It could also be that there is an infection of the nose and adjacent structures which may require antibiotics. There could be a small growth in the nostril called a polyp which could make you more prone to this, or an obstruction along the tract.

It may not be a good idea to keep taking the medication you mentioned. I would advise you see a doctor who would be able to evaluate you properly, find the cause of your colds and treat appropriately. Meanwhile, I would advise you avoid cold environments and cold drinks for now. Keep warm, take a lot of fluids, get adequate rest, and eat healthy. Steam inhalation(covering yourself up in front of a bowl of hot water in which eucalyptus oil has been added, for about 15-20minutes twice or thrice a day, with the aim of inhaling the stream)is also very helpful.

I hope you are able to get the desired weight you desire 😀 and not overweight. Remember, it’s a lot easy to gain weight but very hard work to lose it!

****The answer to this question was contributed by a guest doctor blogger.

For more on this question, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/13/daily-health-tips-adding-weight-re-visited/

Have a great night, everyone 😀