Nutritional deficiencies can affect people in different ways, depending on what nutrients they lack. For example, having a lack of calcium can cause a person’s bones to grow brittle and weaker, and thus they can easily break.
Health risks of being underweight: Weaker immune systems
Another possible health risk of being underweight is having a weaker immune system. Our immune system directly benefits from the vitamins and minerals that we get from the food we eat.
If a person does not eat enough food, then their immune system will start to suffer. This can make them more prone to serious illness, as their body will not have the ability to fight off disease and infection.
Health risks of being underweight: Fertility problems
Fertility problems can also be exacerbated by being underweight. A person’s reproductive health is tied to their overall health, so if they suffer from certain deficiencies, then it would be difficult for them to have a child.
This means that women might find it harder to get pregnant, and men might find it more difficult to have healthy sperm.
Health risks of being underweight: Slower wound healing
Another one of the health risks of being underweight is slower wound healing. If a person’s body lacks iron and protein, then their body might take longer to heal their wounds.
This is because these nutrients are important in repairing damaged tissues, so if there is a lack of these nutrients, then wound healing can suffer. It can also make a person more prone to bruising.
Health risks of being underweight: Increased risk of heart attacks
One serious health risk of being underweight is an increased risk of heart attacks. For the most part, people usually associate heart attacks with obese or overweight people. However, underweight people are also at risk of having a heart attack.
This is due to the fact that being underweight causes a lack of hemoglobin serum in the blood. Hemoglobin serum is important in the heart’s function, and having a significant lack of it can cause heart failure and other cardiovascular problems.
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