Studies have shown that in South Africa, higher rates of underweight have been observed in males than females as well as for black and ‘colored people’ than white. The body mass index, a ratio of a person’s weight to their height, has traditionally been used to assess the health of a person as it pertains to weight: under the cut-off point at a BMI of 18.5, a person is considered underweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend people use a body mass index (BMI) to calculate if they are underweight, at a healthy weight, or overweight.
Using the BMI is considered a good measure of a person’s weight because it compares their weight to their height. For example, a 170-pound person may not be overweight if they are very tall but could be overweight if they are very short. A person can calculate their BMI by visiting the CDC’s Adult BMI Calculator.
People who are underweight typically are not getting enough calories to fuel their bodies. Often, they are also suffering from malnutrition. Malnutrition means you are not taking in enough vitamins and minerals from your food. If you’re underweight, you may be at risk for the following health issues:
- Delayed growth and development. This is especially true in children and teens, whose bodies need plenty of nutrients to grow and stay healthy.
- Fragile bones. A deficiency in vitamin D and calcium, along with low body weight, can lead to weak bones and osteoporosis.
- Weakened immune system. When you don’t get enough nutrients, your body cannot store energy. This makes it difficult to fight illness. It may also be difficult for your immune system to recover after being sick. This condition can be caused by not having enough of the vitamins iron, folate, and B12. This can cause dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.
- Fertility issues. In women, low body weight can lead to irregular periods, lack of periods, and infertility.
- Hair loss. Low body weight can cause hair to thin and fall out easily. It also can cause dry, thin skin and health issues with teeth and gums.
Many skinny or underweight people are physically healthy. Low body weight is due to a variety of causes, including:
- Genetic. If you’ve been thin since high school and it runs in your family, it’s likely that you were born with a higher-than-usual metabolism. You also may have a naturally small appetite.
- High physical activity. If you’re an athlete, you probably know that frequent workouts can affect your body weight. However, high physical activity also can be a part of an active job or an energetic personality. If you’re on your feet a lot, you may burn more calories than people who are more sedentary (inactive).
- Being sick can affect your appetite and your body’s ability to use and store food. If you’ve recently lost a lot of weight without trying, it may be a sign of disease, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, digestive diseases, or even cancer. Talk to your doctor about sudden weight loss.
- Certain prescription medicines can cause nausea and weight loss. Some treatments, such as chemotherapy, can reduce appetite and worsen weight loss from illness.
- Psychological issues. Our mental wellbeing affects every part of our lives. Things like stress and depression can disrupt healthy eating habits. Severe body image fears and distortions can lead to eating disorders. If you’re suffering from damaging emotional issues, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you get the care, assistance, or counseling you may need.
Pills To Gain Weight Fast In South Africa
To gain weight, you have a good eye on your calorie count and take more calories than your body burns per day. However, calories can help you to gain weight but for healthy weight gain you have to consume other nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and others. By taking the right supplement or blood tonic with multivitamins, there’s an increased chance that your body will have all the nutrients it needs to function properly. This can impact upon your weight because of its effect on the metabolism, which is assisted by a wide variety of nutrients. Here is a list of pills and supplements that can help you gain weight in South Africa:
Cipla-Actin Tablets
Cipla-Actin contains cyproheptadine hydrochloride, a histamine and serotonin antagonist which according to studies produces appetite stimulation and weight gain in healthy, underweight, adults. Research has shown that increase in appetite and weight triggered by this medication was significantly greater statistically in those who received cyproheptadine as compared with those who did not.
Apetamin
Apetamin is a vitamin syrup that’s marketed as a weight gain supplement. It was developed by TIL Healthcare PVT, a pharmaceutical company based in India.
According to manufacturing labels, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of Apetamin syrup contains:
- Cyproheptadine hydrochloride: 2 mg
- L-lysine hydrochloride: 150 mg
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) hydrochloride: 1 mg
- Thiamine (vitamin B1) hydrochloride: 2 mg
- Nicotinamide (vitamin B3): 15 mg
- Dexpanthenol (an alternative form of vitamin B5): 4.5 mg
The combination of lysine, vitamins, and cyproheptadine is claimed to aid weight gain, though only the last one has been shown to potentially increase appetite as a side effect.
Apetamin is available in syrup and tablet form. The syrup generally contains vitamins and lysine, whereas the tablets only include cyproheptadine hydrochloride. The supplement is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to safety and effectiveness concerns, and it’s illegal to sell it in the United States and many other countries.
Universal Real Gains Weight Gainer
Another weight gain supplement South Africans and those living in South African can purchase online is Universal Real Gains Weight Gainer. Universal Nutrition has been producing muscle gain supplements for years. Their weight gainer supplement delivers over 50 grams of high-quality protein per serving but is lower in calories than many products with only 600 calories per serving. Along with the relatively low calorie content, this product is lower in carbs than most products with fewer than 100 grams of carbs per serving.
Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer
Optimum Nutrition produces an award-winning line of supplements that are typically highly rated by consumers. Their mass gainer supplement contains a whopping 60 grams of dairy and egg protein both of which are considered high-quality proteins. Similar to the previous product, Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer is one of the lower-calorie and lower-carb mass gainers. Read: Best Weight Gain Pills For Women
Risk of Unhealthy Weight Gain
Overweight and obesity may increase the risk of many health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. If you are pregnant, excess weight may lead to short- and long-term health problems for you and your child.
About 31% of men and 68% of women in South Africa are obese and 13% of South African children are obese. You can reduce the risk of obesity by
- Consuming less “bad” fat and more “good” fat.
- Consuming less processed and sugary foods.
- Eating more servings of vegetables and fruits.
- Eating plenty of dietary fiber.
- Focusing on eating low–glycemic index foods.
- Get the family involved in your journey.
- Engaging in regular aerobic activity.
