4 Easy tips to gain weight while recovering from anorexia

Gaining weight back to ideal is a challenge for people who have experienced anorexia. The reason is, the intake of calories and nutrients can drastically disrupt metabolism and be harmful to the organs in the body.

Healthy tips to gain weight after anorexia

The recovery period for anorexia can take years. This period is very important. Before embarking on any diet to gain weight, make sure you have consulted with your doctor, nutritionist, and psychologist or psychiatrist.

Here are tips that you can apply:

1. Prevent refeeding syndrome

Refeeding syndrome is a metabolic disorder due to the provision of large amounts of nutrition in malnourished patients.

During anorexia, the body uses protein as the main source of energy. When the body returns to its glucose intake, there are sudden changes in metabolism and body fluids.

Instead of gaining weight, anorexia sufferers are at risk of experiencing organ dysfunction, coma, seizures, and death.

In order to prevent refeeding syndrome, You have to increase your calorie intake little by little, not all at once.

Talk to your doctor, as each person's range of calorie intake varies. You should also consult a doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

Body mass index less than 16 kg / m2.
Losing more than 15 percent of body weight over the past 3-8 months.
Little or no nutritional intake for more than 10 days.
Lack of potassium, phosphate and magnesium.

2. Know how many calories you need to add

In order to gain weight after anorexia, you need to increase your calorie intake every day. Calorie needs are not determined arbitrarily, but based on guidelines for one month.

If you are not at risk of experiencing refeeding syndrome, The following is the calorie addition along with an example of a diet that you can follow:

Sample menu 1,500 calories (days 1-4)

Morning: cereal and milk, sliced fruit (melon, watermelon, orange)
Interlude: 150 mL of yogurt
Lunch: 1 baked potato filled with egg, cheese and margarine, complete with sliced fruit
Interlude: 2 biscuits
Afternoon: 5 tablespoons of rice with 1 fried chicken thigh, complete with sauteed carrots

Sample 2,000 calorie menu (5-7 days)

Morning: cereal and milk, cut fruit
Interlude: 2 biscuits, 200 mL of skim milk
Lunch: 2 slices of tuna sandwich and egg, complete with sliced fruit and yogurt
Interlude: 2 biscuits, 150 mL milk full cream
Afternoon: 4 small baked potatoes, top with sauteed asparagus and yogurt

Continue this diet until day 10. If this diet is not able to gain weight, anorexia sufferers need to add a snack after eating in the afternoon.

A substitute can be in the form of 2 biscuits and 150 mL of yogurt. Continue this diet until day 14.

Sample menu 2,800 calories (days 15-21)

Morning: Cereal and milk, 2 pieces of whole wheat bread, 1 boiled egg, 2 bananas
Interlude: 1 apple, 1 cup oatmeal
Lunch: 1 small bowl of rice, 1 piece of grilled chicken breast, 1 small bowl of broccoli
Interlude: 1 apple, 150 mL yogurt, 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Afternoon: 1 medium sweet potato, 2 pieces of meat, sauteed green beans and carrots (use butter)
Before evening: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 apple, 150 mL yogurt

Continue this diet until day 21. If you haven't gained weight, add a snack before bed. Interlude can be oatmeal, sliced fruit, yogurt, or milk.

3. Set a strategy to increase food intake

For people who have experienced anorexia, gaining weight is not as easy as it sounds. You may already know the number of calories that need to be added, but how do you meet your increasing calorie needs?

In order to answer that question, here are a number of strategies you can apply:

Increase the portion and frequency of meals in a day
Adds calories from oil, butter, cream, sauce, and cheese
Limit fiber-dense vegetables and fruits that make you full quickly
Eat foods high in protein
Eat high-calorie foods first, then fruits and vegetables
Take supplements to increase calories

4. Choosing the right type of food

The type of food also determines the success of anorexia sufferers in gaining weight. Choose types of calorie dense foods that contain quality nutrients. So, not only do you gain weight, but you will also get healthier.

Here are some suggested food choices:

Carbohydrate: rice, whole wheat bread, potatoes, corn, oats, sweet potatoes, cereals and pasta
Protein: milk and its products, eggs, red meat, nuts, peanut butter, salmon, and protein supplements
Fat: various types ofoil, butter, and avocado
Vitamins and minerals: dried fruits, vegetables, and dark chocolate

The key to gaining weight during anorexia recovery is to meet your growing calorie needs. Make sure you have consulted with your doctor to see if there are risks refeeding syndrome.

If there are no risks, you can increase your food intake based on the guidelines for daily calorie needs. However, people who are more susceptible usually require special supervision in order to gain weight safely.