Define the Dietary Management for Underweight?
We just read about the etiological factors that may lead to undernutritioin and weight loss. Whatever may be the cause, all underweight individuals are usually in a negative energy balance and have depleted reserves of most nutrients. The diet prescribed for effecting weight gain should be high in calories, proteins, fat and carbohydrates. Since the capacity of the intestines to digest and absorb food is considerably reduced with under nutrition, the addition of foods above the usual intake has to be slow and gradual. We shall now discuss some of the salient features of a weight gain diet for individuals not suffering from any form of chronic disease that requires restrictions in the nutrient intake. So, let us start with the calorie intake which is most significant to weight gain.