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is it bad to be "underweight"?

I know this may seem like a stupid question but my BMI is 18.6 which this site says is underweight. Okay, I'm 5'7" and 119 pounds. I've been starting to eat more calories but i've lost more weight still. I know that I don't look underweight. I mean, isn't it different for everyone what would be considered underweight? I'm eating healthy food and I feel healthy so does it matter what the BMI says? Can't i still be healthy and "underweight"?

At 5'7" and 119 lbs you are at the very very low end of what is considered a healthy weight using the BMI scale.

The physical dangers that come with undereating and being underweight are numerous. You put yourself at risk of osteoporosis, of loss of fertility as you have lost your period, hair loss, electrolyte problems, a weakening of the immune system, low blood pressure, blood disorders such as anemia, heart problems, and even death. The mental woes that come alongside can be just as devestating. Depression is common in undereaters, as well as distorted perceptions and problems like Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Here is some information from Calorie Count's Director of Nutrition Mary Hartley:

What are negative effects of being underweight?

Underweight is defined as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 18.5 or less.  When a person is unnaturally thin from eating too little and exercising too much, negative effects occur.  Hormones regulating menstruation and fertility are disrupted, immunity is compromised and infections develop, and nutritional deficiencies may produce hair loss, anemia, and osteoporosis (bone thinning).  In addition, emotional changes are inevitable, including social withdrawal, irritability, depression, and sleep disorders.  But if an individual is genetically thin, does not smoke, has normal menstrual cycles, and is healthy, then being underweight is only a problem when energy reserves are needed in an acute illness.

Original Post by buzzybee1514:

Hey I wouldnt stress about it. It seems like youre eating enough and being healthy. This site says I have a 16.8 BMI and I feel fine.  As long as ur healthy then you should be fine

buzzybee1514, I see from your profile you are 15 years old. 

A BMI of 16.8 IS NOT fine for adults.

However, since you are 15 there is a different scale for teens and you may be "fine" under those parameters. But remember BMI is just a scale for height and weight and does not reflect mental or physical health.

http://www.kidsnutrition.org/bodycomp/bmiz2.h tml

This Tools on this website are not meant for teens.

18.6 is still considered healthy, though barely.

BMI has limitations because it doesn't take into account body composition, gender, or frame. If you're physically healthy and getting enough nutrition, and a doctor checks you out and agrees that you're fine, then 119 pounds may be all right for you.

I once read an article about how being slightly underweight leads to a longer life on average. Just a fun little fact. I wish I would have saved it because it was fairly interesting. 

Its too bad that all the people that post on this site about their obesity and their poor food choices arent also told about the awful health issues that come with being obese and told they are mentally unwell. Shes wasnt advocating what she was doing and was clear about that. How rude.

Here is the difference, wholegraingoddess...people who are over-eating and obese already know the risks.  Find me one obese person who doesn't know that their weight has health risks.

Then look at the other side of the spectrum.  There are far more underweight people do NOT know the risks of their being underweight - especially in today's society when everyone is told that "thin is in".

I think this is why people who strive to be underweight are focused on alot more in these forums.  There are so many of them.  I haven't seen many people post on here saying that they are purposely striving to be overweight.  That is the difference between the two, I think.

edit: I have seen several threads advocating bingeing and over-eating and they have gotten locked or deleted just as fast as the posts advocating starvation and under-eating.

The health risks for being overweight while serious and severe are frequently less short term than the health risks for being underweight.

In my experience, when the discussion comes up, those on this site who are overweight rarely state that it's healthy, they are actively looking to lose weight and not attempting to gain more weight albeit with the typical lapses that we all have.  Those who are at low weights or underweight are frequently not trying to gain weight but actively attempting to lose additional weight and are highly resistant to the concept of gaining into the healthy range (in some cases this is the voice from a sufferer of an ED and not rational).  Again, these are broad statements based on my experience.  The 300 lb walking heart attack with high cholesterol is on medication and considering surgery for the weight loss and probably has better odds of surviving the year with minor modifications to their diet and lifestyle whereas the underweight (walking heart attack) person is trying to figure out how to exercise off their regular calories and is in danger of not living through the week...potassium levels, electrolytes, cardiovascular weakness, low blood pressure, chronic fatigue, no menstrual cycle, muscle atrophy, etc. are merely some of the risks in this group. 

someone said earlier, underweight is better than overweight.....in whos books?!??!?

wasn't the purpose of mankind to intake food to keep themselves working, fat stores are a good thing, especially if you get sick.

there are no labels and BMI takes in no consideration for builds and gene-types. if your taking in your daily burn and not over-excercising it'd say your healthy, just at the real low end, which isnt always a good thing strength wise.

those guidelines were put in place for a reason, if someone happens to be outside those and still believe they are healthy, its a very good idea to see your doctor i strongly reccommend it, he/she would be a better judge than you, BMI or any of us.

it all depends on what your body works most effectively at and is coomfortable at, your body, not you

If you don't like what you're hearing online, walk yourself into your doctor's office and tell them all of what you're doing and thinking regarding your weight and successes and failures and see what they have to say.  Hopefully the ones who only have a passing introduction to calories and healthy weight management will refer you to a specialist.  As holbee mentioned, if you're outside the BMI range and not trying to get into what is considered normal it might be time to visit your doctor.  I did and mine is quite happy even though my BMI is slightly overweight.

im 16 and i weight 123 pounds. i am about 5'9. that makes my bmi 18.16 or 18.2 which is underweight. i dont look underweight but you can kinda see my ribs and stuff... my hips pop out and everything. i have to admit i have starved myself for the last 5 in a half years and been more active. i no its wrong and bad for me. my mom doesn even no i have been skipping everymeal and not been eating. i no its not only hurting me but my friends around me.

how do i stop it and how do i tell my mom and wat serious damage can i do to my body living like this??

i feel very confused after reading these posts