12 Signs You’re Not Eating Enough
Whether it’s because of stress, illness, fad dieting, a traumatic event or busy schedule, for many people it can be easy to skip meals and undereat. And just like overeating, undereating has a negative impact on our physical and mental health. Aside from the obvious symptom of weight loss, there are many signs indicating you’re not eating enough. To find out what they are, HuffPost Australia spoke to two health experts.
Common causes of undereating “Not eating enough can be caused by restricting energy intake, exercising and not meeting energy requirements, or a combination of both,” accredited practising dietitian and performance dietitian Jessica Spendlove told HuffPost Australia.
“This can happen deliberately, such as someone trying to lose weight and reducing their energy intake, or indirectly by someone increasing their exercise and not adjusting their intake to match their requirements.”
Trends (and misinformation) around diets and nutritional advice can also account for undereating, nutritionist Steph Lowe of The Natural Nutritionist explained. “Absolutely. With the abundance of fad diets and calorie restriction claims being made and marketed to us on a daily basis, not eating enough is not unheard of and will cause more harm than good,” Lowe said.
Common causes of undereating ■ Dieting or restricting calories ■ Over-exercising
■ Not adjusting energy intake to match exercise
■ A combination of the above. “Undereating can also occur when someone consumes a diet rich in nutrient-dense but low-energy foods, such as lots of salads and vegetables,” Spendlove said. “While getting enough vegetables if of course important for overall health, predominantly eating only these foods can result in someone not consuming enough energy.”
Signs you’re not eating enough There are a number of signs which appear when someone is not eating enough. Some present more immediately than others, while others take weeks or months. “Not eating enough can wreak havoc on your hormones, slow down your metabolism, lead to unnecessary anxiety and is considered a form of stress on the body which can actually cause the body to hold onto weight rather than lose it,” Lowe told HuffPost Australia.
“Weight loss, lack of energy and fatigue are the most common signs, as well as frequent cravings and irritability, which can indicate hormone and blood sugar imbalance. “Other symptoms such as hair loss, paleness, brittle nails or dizziness can indicate a nutrient deficiency and a blood test should be prioritised.”
Signs of undereating include: ■ Low energy levels and constantly feeling tired or exhausted Regularly constipated Constantly hungry Moody and irritated easily Poor mental concentration Dizziness
Loss of period or normal menstrual function
Inability to get pregnant Constantly thirsty Constantly feeling cold Hair loss and brittle nails Pale complexion. Source: HuffPost Australia