QuestionI am 24 yrs. old and have a 4 year old son. I have always been very small and even after having my son I only weigh 95 lbs. I maintain a healthy diet and I'm very active. Could there be any health issues that stop me from gaining wieght?
AnswerDear Joanna,
There are indeed various chronic (mild) conditions which cause a slender physique outside original genetics. Persistent under-weight throughout childhood can point to a growth-hormone problem, which may affect your organs. In most cases it is, also, just a case of insufficient calorie intake. Sometimes a dormant illness is related to a particulaly chronic type of emaciation. All in all, I am afraid this is first and foremost a medical question. So I cannot tell you very much, outside advising you to seek advice from your GP. The most common cause of persistent underweight in young mothers is hyperthryoidism. Pregnancy and child birth can trigger such a problem.
But if you always were very slim, there is no reason that this would change after pregnancy when you have a baby as young as you did. Just make sure you feel energetic and have no dark circles under your eyes, yellow eyes, bad breath or lacklustre hair. These could be symptoms of underlying health issues. The ongoing stress that comes with being a new, young mother can be hard to break and it is difficult then to find a routine and regimen that will rebalance your health. Again, some people are very healthy when naturally slim; but be aware that such types are more prone to sclerosis or osteoporosis later in life, and remain preventative about this (healthy diet, exercise etc).
Over activity (mental/emotional) takes a lot out of you, and one would need to eat a very nutritious diet daily to compensate that. The quality of your food, the relaxation during meal times, the regulairty of your meals, and the enjoyment of preparing and sharing these meals all contribute to a diet which can build up your body and prevent constant catabolism (weight loss). This as seen from a holistic point of view. If your nerves are very rattled this will need to be addressed first, and if you are not sleeping enough between 11pm - 7am you will also find it hard to get into a healthy build-up mode.
It may take a lot of emotional and nutritional/physical pampering before you see any improvement to your situation. You are also still very young for a change in body-type (your body is now very used to being the way it is - a noticeable shift tends to happen around 28). Do seriously think about having a few simple bloodtests to check liver, kidney, thyroid function if you continue to be concerned.
Otherwise enjoy your health and maternal blessings as much you can!
Take care, Evelyn
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