Dear XXXXX

Thanks for posting the query.

The data provided by you indicated that your BMI (Body Mass Index) is 20 kg/m2, which is well within the normal BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2.

However, the IBW (ideal Body weight) for you would be 71 – 75 Kg. Indicating a need to gain around 11 – 15 Kg. of weight.

Lower body weight and tiredness is mostly associated with lack of muscles and in some cases the deficiency of certain important nutrients. The most common reasons of low body weight are inadequate eating habits, prolonged meal timings, poor food selection, and sudden increase in physical activity. Sometimes, it is also associated with conditions like insomnia, depression and eating disorders like anorexia. It is therefore, very important for you to be careful, and eliminate all the possible reasons of lower body weight.

You may consider the following changes in your diet for achieving your weight gain goal:
o     Divide your meals into smaller and frequent portions; this would enable the body to consume an adequate amount of calories and use them judiciously.
o     Include nuts and oilseeds in your daily diet. Nuts alone are good muscle building snacks. They are high in mono saturated fats, and even contain a healthy combination of protein and calories. For a better weight gain strategy, you can use peanut butter for a tasty treat. Don’t overlook flax seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachios, and other nuts and seeds.
o     Include protein sources like whole beans, legumes, vegetables like mushroom, soy and milk in daily diet, for building muscles, which is a healthy way for gaining weight.
o     Include starchy foods like potato, tapioca, sweet potato etc., as these would provide the additional calories, which are free and easily available. This helps in the protein sparing action, i.e. these foods support the proteins to do their primary work of building body muscles rather than providing the calories.
o     Drink plenty of water and other fluids like tender coconut water, fresh juices, fresh soups, lemon juice etc. but avoid taking the fluids immediately before or in between the meals, as this reduces the calorie intake.
o     Avoid the carbonated drinks like coke, Pepsi etc.
o     Avoid taking snacks immediately before or around the meal timings, as it affects the appetite hence the intake of food, resulting in unbalanced food intake.
o     Be Consistent as it takes time for the body to adjust and show the desired results.
o     Keep away from junk foods, as these often contain bad oils and very less nutrition.

Exercises are also very important for you. With regular and correct exercises you would be able to convert the proteins into muscles and hence gain healthy weight. Take help from a professional fitness trainer to formulate the exercise pattern best suited to you.

Hope this helps.
Meenakshi

---