Extremely Thin Novosibirsk Residents on Gaining Weight
Some eat sour cream with bread at night, some — buns and chocolate, but sometimes even that is not enough
Many people spend their lives trying to lose extra pounds and try various diets. But there are two sides to every coin: some people try to gain those coveted pounds so as not to be too thin. And it turns out to be far from easy. NGS journalist Maria Tishchenko asked Novosibirsk residents what methods they used to try to gain weight. What they think about extreme thinness and what doctors say about it — in our article.
Many are advised to eat fast food to gain weight
“Leave Us Thin People Alone”
For some, 45–50 kilograms (99–110 lb) is a dream, while others want to get rid of it
Pavel says that as long as he can remember, he has always been thin, and for a long time it did not bother him at all. The older he got, the more often people around him said it was time to gain weight.
Women who eat and don«t get fat are often called witches
“And you know, it«s not that simple. To gain weight, I put together a meal plan and followed it for a long time, but it didn»t bring major changes. I worked out, drank protein and other similar supplements, but my weight always fluctuated at the same level — 53–55 kilograms (117–121 lb),” says Pavel.
The habit of eating sweets at night sometimes remains
He was also advised to eat more fatty food, even fast food, and dairy products. He was told to quit smoking — supposedly after that he would quickly gain the desired pounds.
“One of the features of my body is elastic muscles; I used to do artistic gymnastics. And in this case it will be much harder for me to bulk up than for others. I even went to my relatives for a so-called ‘fattening up,’ but still no success,” Pavel recalls.
At 187 centimeters (6 ft 2 in) tall, Pavel weighs 53 kilograms (117 lb). So far he has not managed to shift his weight upward, but overall, according to Pavel, thinness does not bother him:
“The only couple of downsides are that I«m constantly cold and it»s hard to find clothes, so I have to take many items to a tailor for adjustment.”
But the main trigger that annoys him most is unsolicited advice from people who say he needs to put on weight.
“Let«s be honest, leave us thin people alone. By the way, losing weight is much easier than gaining it,” Pavel is sure.
“I Saw a Photo from My Skinny Days and Got Scared”
Mila recalls that for many years her low weight did not bother her until problems began: when it reached 38–40 kilograms (84–88 lb) at a height of 156 centimeters (5 ft 1 in). And she ate a lot and everything in sight. That was when Mila started thinking about gaining weight.
“I drank special herbs for weight gain, ate only buns and pastries — now I can«t even look at baked goods. I went to a psychologist, but that»s not his field, I tried a special weight-gain nutrition program and so on. But in the end, over about five months I gained 3 kilograms (6.6 lb). I just had to get a little nervous once — and in a couple of weeks I was down 5 kilograms (11 lb),” Mila recalls.
Mila was helped by additional nutrition from a pharmacy that is used in intensive care. But the method turned out to be very expensive. There was no effect, so a friend advised Mila to see a psychiatrist.
“I decided to try, even though I didn«t have anorexia. I underwent a comprehensive examination and was prescribed medications. I was monitored and followed all the doctor»s recommendations for a year. In a year I gained 20 kilograms (44 lb) — up to 60 (132 lb),” Mila notes.
The doctor told Mila that her weight would stabilize when she stopped taking the medications. The girl trusted him. In the end she weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb). That figure has held for six years now. Mila is currently 41 years old.
“I recently saw a photo from my skinny days and got scared. It«s not just unattractive, it looks frightening. Being thin is just as bad and unbearable as being fat,” Mila is sure.
“I Even Went to Turkey on an All-Inclusive Trip”
Oksana was very thin until she was 48. Height — 164 (5 ft 5 in), weight 45–47 kilograms (99–104 lb). The Siberian woman forced herself to eat calorie-dense food at night. As a result, she managed to gain weight. The joy did not last long, because now she has acquired a new habit and wants to lose weight.
“And be careful what you wish for! What if it«s plus 20 kilograms (44 lb)? At first I was happy, but now I»m in some kind of stupor about my weight. I don«t want to radically lose down to 50 (110 lb) again. But I»d like to take off 5–7 kilograms (11–15 lb) from certain places, a little at a time. But I«ve gotten used to eating buns at night and now I have to break the habit,” she notes.
Victoria says that until she was 40 she weighed 46 kilograms (101 lb) and wanted to get fat:
“I ate at fast-food places, ate cakes, nothing helped. I even went to Turkey on an all-inclusive trip — I gained about 3 kilograms (6.6 lb), but when I returned, I lost it all. I only gained weight after childbirth, and now I think what a fool I was. Even though my weight is now 52 (115 lb), I want to get back to my 46 kilograms (101 lb), but I can«t.”
Victoria does not recommend anyone try to get fat, so they don«t regret it later.
Tatiana is 55 years old, her height is 158 centimeters (5 ft 2 in), weight — 56 kilograms (123 lb). But three years ago the picture was different — she weighed 76 kilograms (168 lb). She developed swelling in her neck area. While doctors looked for the cause, Tatiana began figuring out her own body and gradually, by elimination, gave up many foods. First of all, all flour products. That«s how she lost 26 kilograms (57 lb).
“My appearance was far from attractive! Then I tried to gain weight, but I couldn«t. It only worked after a year: again I was helped not by medical specialists but by my own efforts in adjusting my diet. But it»s not something you can just explain, it«s all individual. It took three years,” Tatiana explained.
“As a Doctor, I Would Start by Ruling Out Diseases”
Endocrinologist and chief physician of the Blest medical center Elena Vardosanidze believes that the main reason for the inability to gain weight is that the body burns more calories than it takes in.
This happens because of a hidden calorie deficit: the portion size seems large, but the calorie content of the foods is low.
In addition, there may be undetected medical problems, for example with the gastrointestinal tract; in this case an examination by a gastroenterologist is necessary. The cause could also be a hormonal imbalance. Then a more detailed diagnosis by an endocrinologist is needed.
“Specifically as an endocrinologist in this case, I would start by ruling out diseases such as thyrotoxicosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and adrenal insufficiency,” comments Elena Vardosanidze.
Nutritionist and medical expert at INVITRO Olesya Stupak added that there may also be a deficiency of steroid hormones, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, food allergies, malabsorption, as well as helminth infections (parasitic infestations).
Also, according to the doctor, weight can be affected by chronic infections and oncological diseases, lack of sleep, and an incorrectly selected diet with a deficiency of macro- and micronutrients. In addition, the doctor notes genetic predisposition and body constitution:
“Some people are naturally born with a fast metabolism that prevents them from gaining weight, even if they eat enough calories. Such people are often called asthenics. They have a slender build, a low percentage of body fat, and experience difficulties gaining muscle mass.”
Olesya Stupak emphasizes that psycho-emotional factors and stress also affect weight gain. In such states, an excessive amount of cortisol is produced — a hormone that can suppress digestion and appetite. The causes of insufficient weight also include mental disorders, including eating disorders.
We told you about the methods used by Novosibirsk residents who, on the contrary, are trying to lose weight, in this article.
