Why is my friend, of normal weight, always cold?

Question

I have a friend who is bulimic and who restricts a lot. She is not emaciated or even very thin – she is average weight – but she is ALWAYS cold, even in hot weather.

What causes this, if she has enough body fat to keep her warm?

Answer 1

It could just be poor circulation, or it could be iron deficiency from her bulimia.

Answer 2

In general, people vary widely in their ability to handle extremes in temperature. It seems that some people are "always hot" while others are "always cold." Chances are most of these people are healthy normal.



You may want to consider relaying this and any other episodes to your friends health care provider just to be sure she is in the realm of normal. Firstl, it may be helpful to run some quick blood tests to examine her thyroid function. Hypothyroidism or underactivity of the thyroid gland slows many different body processes. You feel continually tired and worn out, and simple mental tasks can even take longer. You need less energy and you may gain weight even if you eat less. Cold intolerance is also a symptom of hypothyroidism. Note that if your daughter's complaint of being tired and sleepy was an isolated incident there is less cause for concern then if these symptoms persist.

Answer 3

Just because she is at a "healthy weight" does NOT, by no means, mean that she is healthy. Your friend is probably malnourished (malnourished does not denote underweight)-- she is lacking the proper nutrients to keep her body from functioning properly. The fact that she is throwing up could mean that she is losing nutrients through her vomit, thus depriving her body of important vitamins and minerals needed for healthy functioning. She could be particularly low in iron, as others have noted, making her feel cold in warm temperatures. I suggest you refer your friend to doctor and a therapist specializing in eating disorders because bulimia has even more dire health consequences-- such as the erosion of the lining of the esophagus, rotting of the teeth, and problems with electrolytes which could lead to heart failure.

Answer 4

She probably has really low blood pressure, too. And more than likely, anemic .Does it bother her or just you?
Puking your guts out will make you anemic. Suggest to her to start taking a chewable children's vitamin with iron. She won't gain weight from it, but it will help her red blood cells.
I like the Sour Gummies, myself.

Answer 5

does she smoke? smoking causees bad circulation...witch means she will be cold very often.