Too skinny?

Question

I went to www.mypyramid.gov, the site for the food pyramid, and it said that i was like, dangerously skinny. I'm 14, 5'2 and 80 pounds. I really don't think that's too skinny, i'm not anorexic or anything... but is it like a really big deal? Should I talk to my doctor? Becuz thats what the site suggested..

Thanks for everyone's help!
Yeah I'm a vegetarian plus I'm naturally built skinny... it's funny cuz i think i'd look wierd if i gained weight, i dont look all skin and bones or whatever, just normal. I'll choose the best answer as soon as yahoo lets me, but thanks so much for the help. I will talk to my doctor but i guess its probably something i really dont have to worry about too much.

As to the eating, I just listen to what my body tells me. If I'm craving chocolate I realize that my body's just craving sugar so I have some fruit, or if I want chips I'm craving sodium so i find a better food that has the sodium. I think I'm generally pretty healthy, and i definately dont try to loose weight.

Oh, and I just recently grew like 2 inches. I used to be 80 pounds and 5 feet. So that probably is part of it too- i'm still growing

Answer 1

Honestly...I don't think it's too horrible. Some girls are just small. But I would mention it to my doctor and see what he thought if I were you.

Answer 2

As long as you eat, don't worry about it. I am 5'3" and 89 pounds. I have two kids and am still skinny. I was a skinny kid also. Anyway I do not believe in the food pyramid...I think it is a scam to get people to eat a certain way. The pyramid was made by the Dairy Association to help with their profits by making dairy an important "food group". Some people are always thin and healthy that way. It is the chemical additives in food and lazy lifestyles that contribute to weight gain. You can eat tons of organic food only and never become overweight. Our bodies take the nutrition from the food that is needed and eliminate the rest. Additives are hard to digest and cause digestive problems in many people, which is why we are the fattest country. If you eat, keep a steady weight and feel good then you are fine. Stay away from crappy artificial ingredients though or it may catch up to you one day.

Answer 3

A government-run website isn't necessarily telling you you're unhealthy -- they just want to make sure not to miss anything. They're not telling you you're sick, just that you want to double check. The most important thing is just to talk to your doctor about it. At age fourteen, you should still have a regular physician.

Of course there are some conditions which could cause you to not gain weight -- and yes, they might have to do with your thyroid. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) will cause you to eat more and lose weight; an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) will cause you to eat less and gain weight.

Failure to gain weight could be caused by a lot of things. Being an active fourteen year old is certainly on the list of possibilities. There's a lot of obscure possibilities, too, but it doesn't make any sense to discuss them here.

When you do talk to your doctor, he should ask you questions like: Are you eating well? About how much a day? (If you can estimate in calories for him, that would be wonderful.) Are you feeling fatigued or tired at all? Are you vomiting? What's your temperature? He should also ask you other questions about the health of your gastrointestinal system. One thing you should make sure to mention is whether you've lost any weight recently. If you're normally 95 pounds and have dropped to 80, that's a pretty serious sign for concern. If you're just small, he's much less likely to worry.

Answer 4

Well, I guess it depends...
I mean, my BFFLS is 5 foot 4, about 85 lbs, and 13 years old. And yeah, she's underweight... but it's not DISGUSTINGLY anorexic or something. People don't say anything like EWW! She's not all bony and nasty. Just... don't LOSE anymore weight. Because if you do, that would be a problem and you would have to drink ensure.. LOL but right now you sound pretty okay. But if YOU aren't happy with your body, well, that's all that matters. So Eat a variety of food groups, STILL EXERCISE because if you don't it wont make you gain healthy pounds. Just eat more carbs, if you want a few extra lbs.
Thanks for letting me ramble on for 10 minutes! LOL
Hope I could help... 0:-D -Hannah ♥

Answer 5

You're fine, since you're 14. Believe it or not, older women weigh more because of bone mass - not because of muscle/fat. So as you grow older, your bones become heavier and then you'll get to be on the average scale.

But it wouldn't hurt to boost your weight up a little bit more. Don't start overeating though and gain 20 pounds in a week. As long as you exercise regularly and eat three square meals a day, you should be okay.

Answer 6

If your eatting properly I wouldn't worry to much. I am 16, 5'2 and 92lbs, so I do weigh more then you. I would say if your parents are worried then speak with your doctor, but if your eatting healthy then that just might be how you were born.


ps to somebody who posted about a thyroid problem, that makes you gain weight no loss weight. I know because my mom has a thyroid problem.

Answer 7

Yeah, my mom works at the Womens Clinic at the University of Florida, and yes, she say's it's dangerously skinny. You need to eat lot's of high calorie foods, but not things too unhealthy for you. You want to gain weight in all the right places. You won't do that if you eat fast food everyday :)


Lot's of nutrients also.

Hope this helps! Stay safe :)

Answer 8

Let me just say something, I have a best friend who is like you. No matter how much she eats, she just cannot gain weight. You need to talk to your doctor and he can provide a healthy dietary plan for you that can help you gain weight and be more healthy. Good Luck, and always know that God made you perfect and flawless and he loves you!

Answer 9

um yeah girl you're pretty skinny. You need at least an extra 20 pounds. 80 pounds is not very healthy for a 14 year old girl. Try eating and exercising for gaining more muscle.

Answer 10

hey its ok i was 80 pounds 4 a whiel bout a year or so nd im a inch taller then u its not so un healthy but i got sick easyer that year nd it is 2 skinny just eat alot get up 2 bout 95 or a 100

Answer 11

Well, you're 14 and will probably still grow. You have time. I'm 5'5", 105lbs and all the charts say I'm underweight, i could use about 10 more lbs, but i have a really high metabolism and its hard for me to gain weight.