My wife wants to gain some weight in the next couple of days, for the holiday. Can a person gain 3-5 pounds with water retention? – anonymous
Dear anonymous,
There are ways to gain weight for individuals experiencing health consequences resulting from their low weight. Some conditions might include anorectics, infertility, HIV sufferers, and cancer victims (cachexia).
If one is healthy and trying to change their genetic and God given weight, however, this is not recommended for several reasons. First, weight that is gained quickly is usually distributed intra-abdominally (i.e. in the belly area), which is not generally considered to be desirable. In addition, it is difficult to lose weight in this area, once it is gained.
More alarming, however, is the fact that abdominal fat is also pathological (disease producing) and contributes to what is termed “silent inflammation.” Eventually this can result in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and possibly even cancer, to name a few. For reasons like these, nutritionists and those in the medical profession are continually recommending that persons take measures to reduce their intra-abdominal fat.
Added weight in the form of water can also precipitate problems, most commonly high blood pressure. In addition, weight gained by water often presents itself with a bloated appearance, which is considered to be quite negative by most women (ask any female who has experienced PMS).
With these things in mind, unless there is some medical condition related to being underweight, the best thing to do is eat healthy, exercise and let nature take its course. If, however, a particular medical condition would be improved by weight gain, then we recommend that you contact a registered dietitian in your area who can healthfully guide you through the proper diet to gain lean tissue and not trigger obesity. Click here for tips on finding a nutritionist.
Sincerely,
Ralph Carson