Weight coach bella Barnes frequently enough hears the same story from her new clients: thay struggle with their weight, but not in the way most people think. These women are too thin adn want to gain weight, not lose it.
Barnes, who is based in Great Britain, has seen clients go to extreme lengths to try and gain weight. “I’ve had a client who wears leggings with bum pads in them,” she says. “Another client wears three pairs of leggings in the summer just to look a bit bigger.”
These women belong to a demographic that is often overlooked - those who are naturally thin but don’t want to be. While much attention is given to obesity and its health consequences, there are also people at the other end of the spectrum struggling with their weight.
The Enigma of Constitutional Thinness
A recent paper published in the Annual Review of Nutrition estimates that around 1.9% of the population falls into this category,with 6.5 million individuals being constitutionally thin in the United States alone.
The Overlooked Group
This group has been largely understudied compared to those dealing with unwanted weight gain. Actually, fewer than 50 clinical studies have looked at constitutionally thin individuals while there have been thousands on obesity.
However, researchers have recently started investigating how naturally thin bodies differ from others and hope this will lead to insights on how these individuals can gain weight more easily.
The Link Between Obesity and Constitutional Thinness
Mélina Bailly, a coauthor of a recent review on constitutional thinness and a physiological researcher at AME2P, a metabolism research lab in France, believes that understanding this condition can also help those struggling with obesity. She says that constitutional thinness is like a “mirror model” of obesity.
The Genetics of Weight Regulation
Research on identical twins has shown that genetics play a meaningful role in weight regulation. In one study, twelve pairs of identical twins were fed an extra 1,000 calories per day for three months. The results showed that while all the participants gained weight, there was significant variation between twin pairs compared to within them.
This suggests that genetics may influence an individual’s tendency to gain or lose weight when overfed or underfed.
The Mystery of Where the Calories Go
One question researchers are trying to answer is where do the extra calories go in constitutionally thin individuals? Some studies have found that these individuals eat just as much as their peers but don’t easily gain weight. This challenges our understanding of energy balance and metabolism.
‘Skinny Shaming’
Just like those who struggle with obesity face social stigma, so do those who are naturally thin. Men may feel pressure to be more muscular while women frequently enough feel self-conscious about lacking curves. They may also face accusations of having eating disorders or receive unsolicited comments about their weight from strangers.
New Insights on Weight Regulation
While there is still much to learn about constitutional thinness, researchers are making progress in understanding how these individuals differ metabolically from others. This could lead to new insights on how our bodies regulate weight and possibly help both those struggling with unwanted weight gain and those trying to gain pounds.
Weight coach bella Barnes frequently enough hears the same story from her new clients: they struggle with their weight, but not in the way most people think. These women are too thin and want to gain weight, not lose it.
Barnes, who is based in Great Britain, has seen clients go to extreme lengths to try and gain weight. “I’ve had a client who wears leggings with bum pads in them,” she says. “Another client wears three pairs of leggings in the summer just to look a bit bigger.”
These women belong to a demographic that is frequently enough overlooked - those who are naturally thin but don’t want to be. while much attention is given to obesity and its health consequences,there are also people at the other end of the spectrum struggling with their weight.
The Enigma of Constitutional Thinness
A recent paper published in the annual Review of Nutrition estimates that around 1.9% of the population falls into this category, with 6.5 million individuals being constitutionally thin in the United States alone.
The Overlooked Group
This group has been largely understudied compared to those dealing with unwanted weight gain. In fact, fewer than 50 clinical studies have looked at constitutionally thin individuals while there have been thousands on obesity.
Though, researchers have recently started investigating how naturally thin bodies differ from others and hope this will lead to insights on how these individuals can gain weight more easily.
The Link between Obesity and Constitutional Thinness
Mélina Bailly, a coauthor of a recent review on constitutional thinness and a physiological researcher at AME2P, a metabolism research lab in France, believes that understanding this condition can also help those struggling with obesity. She says that constitutional thinness is like a “mirror model” of obesity.
The Genetics of weight Regulation
Research on identical twins has shown that genetics play a significant role in weight regulation. In one study, twelve pairs of identical twins were fed an extra 1,000 calories per day for three months. The results showed that while all the participants gained weight, there was significant variation between twin pairs compared to within them.
This suggests that genetics may influence an individual’s tendency to gain or lose weight when overfed or underfed.
The Mystery of Where the Calories Go
One question researchers are trying to answer is where do the extra calories go in constitutionally thin individuals? Some studies have found that these individuals eat just as much as their peers but don’t easily gain weight. This challenges our understanding of energy balance and metabolism.
‘Skinny Shaming’
Just like those who struggle with obesity face social stigma, so do those who are naturally thin. Men may feel pressure to be more muscular while women frequently enough feel self-conscious about lacking curves. They may also face accusations of having eating disorders or receive unsolicited comments about their weight from strangers.
New Insights on weight regulation
While there is still much to learn about constitutional thinness, researchers are making progress in understanding how these individuals differ metabolically from others. This could lead to new insights on how our bodies regulate weight and potentially help both those struggling with unwanted weight gain and those trying to gain pounds.
Another gene, BDNF, is also involved in both obesity and thinness. This gene codes for a protein that promotes the growth of new neurons and synapses in the brain – a process known as neurogenesis. In mice,BDNF seems to be involved in regulating appetite and energy expenditure.
But it’s not just genes that are at play. “We certainly know that there are environmental factors that can influence these genes,” says Verney.
In fact, some researchers believe that epigenetics – changes to how genes are expressed rather than changes to the genetic code itself – may be responsible for some cases of constitutional thinness.
The Complexities of Constitutional Thinness
Constitutional thinness is not simply a matter of being skinny or having a fast metabolism. It is a complex condition influenced by genetics,environment,and individual differences in body composition and metabolism. While some people may be naturally thin, others may struggle with maintaining a healthy weight due to underlying health issues or lifestyle factors.
One of the key differences between constitutionally thin individuals and those who are simply skinny is their body composition. Thin people tend to have less muscle mass and more fat mass compared to normal-weight individuals. This can have implications for overall health, as reduced muscle mass can lead to weaker bones and decreased physical strength.
In addition, constitutionally thin people may have unique metabolic processes that contribute to their leanness. Some studies suggest that they may “waste” calories through increased fidgeting or excretion of calories through feces and urine. other research has found that they may have higher levels of brown fat, a type of tissue that burns calories for heat production.
While genetics play a significant role in constitutional thinness, environmental factors also play a part. Certain genes related to energy production and appetite regulation are thought to be involved in both obesity and thinness, suggesting that environmental influences can impact how these genes are expressed.
The Health Implications of Constitutional Thinness
While being naturally lean may seem like an advantage in our society obsessed with weight loss, there can be potential health consequences associated with constitutional thinness.
Such as, reduced muscle mass can lead to weaker bones as we age, putting constitutionally thin individuals at risk for osteoporosis. It can also make everyday tasks more tough due to decreased physical strength.
In addition,having less protein reserves during illness could make it harder for constitutionally thin individuals to recover from sickness or injury compared to those with more muscle mass.
The Future of Research on Constitutional Thinness
As researchers continue studying this complex condition, there is still much we don’t know about constitutional thinness. Some studies have suggested that epigenetics, or changes in gene expression, may play a role in some cases of thinness.
Future research will also focus on identifying specific gene variants and environmental factors that contribute to constitutional thinness.This could lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments for those who struggle with maintaining a healthy weight due to this condition.
Conclusion
Constitutional thinness is not simply a matter of being skinny or having a fast metabolism. It is a complex condition influenced by genetics, environment, and individual differences in body composition and metabolism. While some people may be naturally thin, others may struggle with maintaining a healthy weight due to underlying health issues or lifestyle factors.
As researchers continue studying this condition,we will gain more insight into its complexities and potential health implications. This could lead to better treatments for those who are affected by constitutional thinness.
Sources:
- Bailly N et al (2021) “Body composition analysis reveals normal fat mass in constitutionally lean individuals.” The Journal of Clinical endocrinology & Metabolism, 106(3):e1295-e1306.
- Lund J et al (2019) “Constitutional Thinness: Unraveling the Metabolic Health Benefits.” Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 30(8):479-490.
- Muller MJ et al (2016) “Metabolic adaptation to caloric restriction and subsequent refeeding: the Minnesota Starvation Experiment revisited.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(4):718-729.
- Ravussin E et al (1990) “Determination of body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in subjects aged 4-26 y.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 51(5):871-877.
- Verney J et al (2020) “Constitutional thinness: unusual human phenotype of low fat mass, high energy expenditure and hypothalamic amenorrhoea.” Annual Review of Nutrition,40:93-111.
Understanding Constitutional Thinness: A Complex Condition with Potential Health Implications
In today’s society, being thin is often equated with being healthy. Though, for some individuals, maintaining a low body weight may not be a choice or a result of strict dieting and exercise. These individuals are known as constitutionally thin and they have a unique metabolic profile that sets them apart from those who are simply skinny.
In this article, we will explore the complexities of constitutional thinness and its potential health implications. We will also discuss current research on this condition and what the future holds for understanding it better.
The Differences Between Being Skinny and Constitutionally Thin
While many people may use the terms “skinny” and “thin” interchangeably, there is actually a significant difference between these two states. being skinny typically refers to having a low body weight due to restrictive dieting or excessive exercise. Conversely, being constitutionally thin means that an individual has always been naturally lean without any effort on their part.
This distinction is significant because constitutionally thin individuals have unique metabolic profiles that set them apart from those who are simply skinny. This includes differences in body composition (the amount of muscle mass versus fat mass) as well as how their bodies use up calories through processes like thermogenesis (the generation of heat through calorie burning).
The Role of Body Composition in constitutional Thinness
One of the key differences between constitutionally thin individuals and those who are simply skinny is their body composition.While both groups may have a low body weight, constitutionally thin people tend to have less muscle mass and more fat mass compared to normal-weight individuals.
this difference in body composition can have implications for overall health.For example, reduced muscle mass can lead to weaker bones as we age, putting constitutionally thin individuals at risk for osteoporosis. It can also make everyday tasks more difficult due to decreased physical strength.
In addition, having less protein reserves during illness could make it harder for constitutionally thin individuals to recover from sickness or injury compared to those with more muscle mass.
The Unique Metabolic Processes of Constitutionally thin Individuals
In addition to differences in body composition,researchers believe that there are unique metabolic processes at play in constitutionally thin individuals that contribute to their leanness. Some studies suggest that they may “waste” calories through increased fidgeting or excretion of calories through feces and urine.
Other research has found that they may have higher levels of brown fat, a type of tissue that burns calories for heat production. This could explain why some naturally lean people seem able to eat whatever they want without gaining weight.
The role of Genetics and Environment
While genetics play a significant role in constitutional thinness, environmental factors also play a part. Certain genes related to energy production and appetite regulation are thought to be involved in
The Role of Genetics in Weight Gain and Loss
Weight is a complex issue, influenced by a variety of factors such as diet, exercise, and genetics. While some people struggle to lose weight despite their efforts, others seem to effortlessly maintain a slim figure.This has led researchers to investigate the role of genetics in weight gain and loss.
According to Dr. Claude Bouchard, director of the Human Genomics Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, “Genetics plays an important role in constitutional thinness.” Simply put, some individuals are genetically predisposed to being thin or having difficulty gaining weight.
In recent years, researchers have made significant progress in identifying specific genes that may contribute to weight gain or loss.Such as, studies on mice have shown that deleting a gene called Alk can make them resistant to weight gain when fed high-fat diets.
This research is promising as it suggests that understanding genetic mechanisms could lead to new treatments for both underweight and overweight individuals. As Dr. Christian Lund from the university of Copenhagen explains: “If you can figure out what protects them from developing overweight…you can then try to turn that into a drug.”
The ultimate goal is to find breakthrough treatments similar to those available for obesity medications.
Navigating Weight Gain on Your Own
Bella Barnes knows firsthand the struggles of trying to gain weight. After years of trial and error with different diets and exercise routines, she gradually gained about 40 pounds through strength training and intentional eating habits.
Barnes emphasizes the importance of not just reaching calorie goals but also focusing on whole foods for optimal health. She has even coached over 100 women on her successful techniques for gaining weight.
Though, even with her progress, Barnes admits that she still has a desire to gain a few more pounds. “Maybe five more pounds,” she says, “would make me at my happiest.”
The Importance of Balance
While genetics may play a significant role in weight gain and loss, it’s essential to remember that it is just one factor. Diet and exercise also play crucial roles in maintaining a healthy weight.
It’s critically important to find balance and listen to your body’s needs when it comes to food and exercise. As Barnes discovered through trial and error, not all calories are created equal. Focusing on whole foods can lead to better overall health.
The Bottom Line
while genetics may contribute to weight gain or loss for some individuals, it is indeed not the only determining factor. By understanding genetic mechanisms and finding balance in diet and exercise habits, we can work towards achieving our desired weight goals.
This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible for all. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter for more informative articles like this one.
Comments
LEAVE A REPLY
Fascinating topic! I never realized there was so much to learn about gaining weight.