How Thin is Too Thin? When Being Skinny Becomes a Problem

What if obesity is not an issue, and your problem is that you can't gain weight or maintain a healthy body weight on the other end of the spectrum?

I actually have a couple of friends who have been unable to gain weight, one due in part to her metabolism and medication, and the other due in part to anorexia. Both of my friends are extremely thin, and frequently have had people comment on their size. In fact, both of them said it is not unusual for even a stranger to say they need to gain weight, ‘put some meat on their bones', or to offer them more food or larger portions because they can stand to eat more.

Just like obesity and overweight are not necessarily always caused by overeating, the same is true that being too thin is not always caused by under eating either.

Carson Kressley, who hosts the Lifetime Television show “How to Look Good Naked”, was quoted on the show as saying, “Zero is not a size, okay? It's a warning sign.” (episode aired: January 10th, 2008)

In other words, there does come a point where being thin can become too thin, and that is a warning sign of other potential problems. There are ways to determine when your body weight is normal, below normal or in the danger zone.

Possible Symptoms of being Too Thin

* Having a body mass index of less than two to three points below normal for your height and weight is a warning sign of being too thin.
* For a woman, menstrual irregularities or lack of menstruation can be a sign for being too thin.
* Being diagnosed with anemia or other deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can be a sign of being malnourished, which can result in being too thin.
* When bones are clearly visible or palpable through the skin, particularly ribs and collarbones, it's a good bet this is a sign of being too thin.
* A body weight of more than 15% under ideal weight is likely too thin.
* Anorexia and bulimia symptoms are a clear warning sign that a person either is or is going to be too thin.

Being too thin can be dangerous, unhealthy, and cause self esteem issues just as much as obesity and overweight can!

Credit: Oliver Brandt

Copyright: Oliver Brandt (used with permission under licensing agreement)