What food helps people gain weight the most?
It’s crucial to follow the right procedures if you’re underweight and trying to gain weight.
Initially, eating soda, donuts, and other junk food may help you gain weight, but over time, it can raise your risk of developing diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Instead of gaining a lot of unhealthful belly fat, a more healthy way to gain weight is to gain a balanced amount of muscle mass and subcutaneous fat.
Particularly belly fat may be linked to an increased risk of cancer, according to a recent animal study.
Even if you are not overweight, having a high body fat percentage raises your risk of type 2 diabetes as well as other health issues.
The simple methods in this article will help you gain weight quickly without raising your risk of illness.
Why is weight gain important?
While roughly 74% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese, the opposite issue of underweight affects a large number of people.
Some people may be genetically predisposed to being underweight or have a quick metabolism. Being underweight may also be a sign of nutrient deficiencies or underlying medical issues.
The fundamentals are the same whether you are clinically underweight or are just having trouble putting on muscle mass.
Read more: Chia Seeds and Weight Loss: What You Need to Know
What does the term “underweight” mean?
This is thought to be less than the minimum amount of body mass required to maintain good health.
The BMI scale, which only considers weight and height, has a number of flaws, so keep that in mind. It does not account for muscle mass.
Some individuals are naturally very thin but remain healthy. This scale says that if you are underweight, you may not necessarily have a health issue.
Health risks associated with underweight
According to one study, being clinically underweight may be worse for your health than being obese because these people have a nearly twofold higher risk of dying than those who are obese.
A low BMI later in life may be associated with increased health risks, according to another study that found that self-reported health outcomes significantly decreased in underweight people after the age of 38.
Being underweight can harm your immune system, increase your risk of infection, cause osteoporosis and fractures, and interfere with your ability to conceive.
Additionally, those who are underweight have a much higher risk of developing sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting) and may have a higher risk of developing dementia.
It might also affect a child’s ability to grow and develop normally.
Read more: 8 tips for eating well | Best 8 ways to be health with well eating
Various Weight-Gaining Tips
Whatever your motivations for wanting to put on weight, there are numerous methods you can employ to bulk up. You can gain weight using any of the methods we’ve listed below.
1. Increase your caloric intake
Having a calorie surplus—eating more calories than your body requires—is the most crucial thing you can do to gain weight.
This calorie calculator can help you determine how many calories you need. Aim for 700–1,000 extra calories per day over your maintenance level to quickly gain weight.
2. Increase your protein intake
For optimum growth, development, and human health, a sufficient intake of high-quality proteins from animal products is necessary.
Increasing protein will increase lean muscle mass, according to a 2020 study involving 23 people.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein ranges from 1.0 to 1.6 grammes per kilogramme of body weight per day to support skeletal and muscle growth and physical strength in healthy adults who engage in little to moderate physical activity.
For healthy adults, a daily protein intake of up to 2 grammes per kilogramme of body weight may be safe, with a maximum of 3.5 grammes per kilogramme per day.
3. Eat more foods that are high in energy
It’s crucial to consume a majority of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
It is more difficult to consume enough calories with these foods because they are typically more filling than processed junk food.
This can be achieved by utilising a variety of spices, sauces, and condiments. It might be simpler to eat a lot of food if it tastes better. Additional calories could be added by toppings.
Moreover, make an effort to emphasise energy-dense foods as much as you can. In relation to their weight, these foods are high in calories.
Here are some foods that are high in energy and could aid in weight gain:
Fruit that has been dried, such as raisins, dates, prunes, and others
Fats and oils such as avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil
Grains, especially whole grains like brown rice and oats
Meat options include lamb, pork, beef, and chicken; you can also choose cuts with more fat.
Dark chocolate, avocados, peanut butter, coconut milk, granola, and trail mix are additional foods that are high in energy.
How can I put on weight without eating excessively?
You’ll probably need to eat more calories in order to gain weight. Starting a resistance training programme will help you avoid overeating and ensure that the extra calories are used by your muscles rather than just your fat cells.
Muscle hypertrophy from resistance training results in an increase in muscle mass.
Resistance training alone may not result in the same gains in lean body mass as when combined with protein dietary supplements.
The Conclusion
Wanting to put on weight can be motivated by numerous factors.
It’s crucial to achieve this by eating nutrient-dense foods and gaining lean muscle mass.
Last but not least, losing weight is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s critical to consult a physician or dietitian if you’re having trouble gaining weight despite attempting the strategies mentioned above. A dietitian can assist you in implementing eating habits that could aid in achieving your objective.
