Digestion & Nutrition
Underweight
Being 10% or more below healthy weight for one's height, often caused by malabsorption, thyroid or other endocrine disorders, digestive enzyme deficiency, food allergies, or inadequate diet. The solution is highly nourishing whole food, digestive enzyme support, regularity, and identification of underlying causes.
Also known as: Thinness, Low body weight, Wasting, Undernutrition, hypoglycemia (definition: low blood sugar), colitis (definition: inflammation of the colon)
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Inadequate caloric or protein intake; Malabsorption from colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or diverticulitis; Digestive enzyme deficiency or food allergies.
First thing to try: Eat a nourishing diet with adequate and complete proteins.
See a doctor if: See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Inadequate caloric or protein intake
- Malabsorption from colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or diverticulitis
- Digestive enzyme deficiency or food allergies
- Thyroid imbalance (hyperthyroidism speeds metabolism; hypothyroidism paradoxically blocks weight gain in some)
- Intestinal parasites depleting nutrients
- Diabetes, hypoglycemia, adrenal insufficiency
- Chronic stress, smoking, emotional trauma, surgery, or chemotherapy
- Anorexia nervosa or other restrictive eating patterns
- Zinc deficiency reducing appetite
Change what you can
- Eat a nourishing diet with adequate and complete proteins.
- A weight-gain program should target 2,500-3,000 calories daily with 100 grams of protein and 300 grams of complex carbohydrates -- from nourishing food only, never processed or junk food.
- Correct vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → and mineralA natural building block your body needs in small amounts, like calcium or magnesium. More → deficiencies.
- Get moderate outdoor exercise daily -- it helps the system digest food.
- Rest for 15-60 minutes before each meal -- this builds digestive strength.
- Eat in relaxed, non-stressful surroundings and at regular times.
- Avoid fried food, junk food, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.
- Test for food allergies (wheat, cow's milk are common).
- For infants, mashed bananas are easily digested.
- Investigate for parasites, thyroid imbalance, or malabsorption if weight cannot be gained despite adequate intake.
🌿 Then assist nature: remedies & protocols
With the cause being addressed, these are the actual things people do for this — ranked by the community. Vote ▲ on what helped you and ▼ on what didn't, and open How to do it for the steps. Each shows two quick signals: Evidence (how much science backs it) and Gentleness (how safe and in keeping with whole, natural health).
★ Start here — our first-line pick, pinned for safety
This is the gentlest, most foundational starting point — nourishing whole foods rather than empty calories.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Adding calorie-dense, nutrient-rich foods like nuts, whole grains, and healthy fats throughout the day supplies the extra energy and building blocks the body needs to rebuild tissue and reach a healthy weight.
- Add a source of healthy fat (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil) to meals you already eat.
- Choose whole-grain breads, rice, and cereals instead of low-calorie options.
- Include a protein source at each meal, such as eggs, beans, fish, or poultry.
- Add nutritious snacks between meals, like trail mix or nut butter on whole-grain toast.
- Track weight weekly rather than daily to see gentle, steady progress.
Ongoing daily pattern · Every day, at each meal and snack
Caution: Unintended or unexplained weight loss should always be checked by a doctor before starting a weight-gain plan. Avoid relying on junk food for calories — it can add weight without needed nutrients.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly for rapid unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep food down.
Source: Traditional naturopathic dietary guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
Also helps — ranked by the community (vote to reorder)
Supportive alongside medical care — helps identify causes like malabsorption or thyroid imbalance that need a doctor's evaluation.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Keeping a written record of diet, symptoms, and possible triggers helps uncover patterns — such as reactions to wheat or dairy, or signs of thyroid or digestive trouble — that a doctor can then investigate and treat.
- Write down what you eat and any digestive symptoms (bloating, pain, diarrhea) for two weeks.
- Note any patterns after eating wheat or dairy products specifically.
- Track energy levels, mood, and any signs of feeling too warm or too cold, which can hint at thyroid changes.
- Bring this record to a medical appointment to help guide testing.
A few minutes daily · Daily for at least two weeks
Caution: This tracking tool does not replace medical testing for celiac disease, parasites, or thyroid problems. Do not eliminate major food groups long-term without professional guidance.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly if weight loss is significant, unexplained, or accompanied by fever, blood in stool, or persistent pain.
Source: Traditional naturopathic guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
Helps ensure that added calories build healthy muscle alongside the nourishing eating plan.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Moderate resistance movement stimulates muscle growth, which helps weight gained through extra calories become healthy lean tissue rather than being burned off by too much aerobic exercise.
- Choose two or three days a week for light strength activity.
- Start with bodyweight moves like wall push-ups, gentle squats, or resistance band exercises.
- Keep aerobic exercise moderate rather than intense, since heavy cardio can burn needed calories.
- Rest at least one day between strength sessions to allow recovery.
20-30 minutes per session · 2-3 times a week
Caution: Start gently, especially if you have not exercised in a while. Stop if you feel dizzy, unusually fatigued, or have joint pain.
When to get help: Seek medical care for chest pain, fainting, or severe weakness during activity.
Source: Traditional naturopathic lifestyle guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
A gentle daily habit that supports better digestion alongside a nourishing diet.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: A relaxed nervous system directs more blood flow and energy to the digestive organs, which can improve the breakdown and absorption of nutrients — especially helpful for those who struggle to gain weight.
- Set aside 15-20 minutes of quiet rest before each main meal.
- Sit or lie down away from screens and stressful conversations.
- Take a few slow, deep breaths to settle the body.
- Come to the table calm and unhurried, and eat slowly.
15-20 minutes before meals · Before each main meal
Caution: This supports digestion but does not replace medical evaluation for persistent digestive symptoms. If eating remains difficult due to stress or anxiety, professional counseling can help.
When to get help: See a doctor promptly if weight loss continues despite these changes, or if digestive pain is severe.
Source: Traditional naturopathic digestive guidance
Comments & experiences ▾
How the numbers work: a weighted voting system — trusted published sources cast endorsement votes for each protocol, and your ▲/▼ adds to them. Not medical advice.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your underweight — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
Being underweight means weighing at least 10% less than the healthy average for one's height. In good health, being naturally slim confers advantages (especially in aging -- thinner people tend to live longer and have less heart disease). But unintended or sudden weight loss requires investigation: possible causes include digestive malabsorption (colitis, diverticulitis), intestinal parasites, liver or pancreatic problems, digestive enzyme deficiency, food allergies, endocrine imbalances (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism), chronic illness, smoking, surgery, chemotherapy, and eating disorders (anorexia). In infants, sudden failure to gain weight may indicate celiac disease. Zinc deficiency and cancer can reduce appetite. The key is identifying and addressing the underlying cause while restoring nutrient-dense eating.
Being significantly underweight — well below a healthy weight for one's height — can leave the body short of the energy and nutrients it needs, causing fatigue, weakened immunity, hair and skin changes, and, over time, effects on bones, hormones, and overall health. It may stem from simply not eating enough, but also from malabsorption, an overactive thyroid, illness, stress, or disordered eating.
The healthy goal is to nourish the body well rather than just adding empty calories: nutrient-dense whole foodsFoods close to how they grow in nature, with little or no processing. More → eaten more frequently, healthy fats and proteins, and addressing any appetite or digestive issues. Gentle strength-building activity helps build healthy tissue. Importantly, persistent or unexplained weight loss, or difficulty maintaining weight, deserves medical evaluation to find any underlying cause, and where the difficulty relates to feelings about food or body image, compassionate professional support is valuable and worth seeking.
Common signs
- Body weight 10%+ below healthy range for height
- Hunger, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, sensitivity to cold
- Loss of ambition or motivation
- Muscle wasting in severe cases
- Stunted growth in children
🍃 Supporting foods & habits
The gentle, everyday foods and supports that help in the background — secondary to the active remedies above. Vote on what helped you.
A nutrient-rich diet helps, focusing on nourishing, calorie-dense whole foods rather than empty calories.920
A naturally sweet dried fruit, rich in fiber, minerals, and quick energy, and a gentle aid for regularity.920
Good vitamin D and general health support healthy weight gain (unexplained weight loss should be checked by a doctor).870
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
The most nourishing possible food: complete proteins (beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains), essential fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and full vitamin-mineral supplementation. Eat regular meals at consistent times. No junk food, processed food, fried food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco.
⚖️ Good to know
- Unintended weight loss always warrants investigation for an underlying cause: intestinal parasites, celiac disease, cancer, thyroid disease, or severe malabsorption must be ruled out.
- Underweight in infants should be evaluated promptly.
- Smoking is a direct cause of inability to gain weight and must be stopped.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Being underweight is evaluated for a cause and treated by safely increasing nutrition.
Commonly offered
- Checking for causes (thyroid, digestive disease, diabetes, eating disorder, cancer)–
- Nutrient-dense meals and healthy calorie increases–
- Treating the underlying condition–
- Dietitian support–
Worth knowing
- Unintentional weight loss should always be investigated.
- Screen for eating disorders sensitively — they need specialized care.
- Don't just add junk food — aim for nutritious weight gain.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
💚 Was this page helpful?
A quick tap helps us improve these guides. Saved on your device in this preview.