hi welcome to HCM i know it's a common question,but dear friend if you have ideal weight as per your height and if you are able to climb stairs(double storey) and do all the physical activity without getting breathlessness .then you are fit.why do you want to carry extra pound ? there are drugs available and there side effect is used to gain weight.but, i won't recommend them. take care

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Brief Answer: Find the cause first. Detailed Answer: Weight gain is as difficult as losing it, if you are naturally thin. Gaining weight is a problem for many people. They complain that they can't put on any weight. Being lean and thin can be due to many causes and finding out the main cause will help in gaining the weight. Genetics is the main factor responsible. If your parents or siblings are also underweight then may be it is in your genes. The other causes that need to be ruled out are - 1. Depression. 2. Some hormonal disturbances like hyperthyroidism, Addison's disease - Some simple blood tests will rule this out. 3. Chronic illness - A long standing illness also causes lack of a healthy look. 4. Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) - I hope you do not have any pain abdomen, loose stools, burning sensation in upper abdomen, etc. 5. Viral gastroenteritis. 6. Stress and anxiety. 7. Malnutrition. 8. Intestinal worms. All these causes need to be ruled out with the help of your physician after a thorough examination and some blood tests. As far as your diet is concerned, the primary rule is to increase the calorie intake and do some form of exercise along with it. It is not a good idea of increasing intake of junk foods and fatty foods to gain weight. You should be eating calorie dense yet nutritious food. The medicines for gaining weight or to slow the metabolism are not recommended as they can cause any side effects and the effect ay not be long lasting. Your calorie intake should come from foods that are healthy for you. The weight gaining diet should include high protein foods, high carbohydrate foods and healthy fats. Following are some tips to follow to gain weight. You will take some time to gain the weight you need, but be patient. 1)Start your day with a healthy breakfast comprising a glass of milk and a banana or a banana milkshake. 2)Have frequent small meals every three hours in a day and divide them into six small meals comprising of proteins in one meal as pulses,cereals,beans,legumes, etc. 3)Have energy dense foods as dry fruits, nuts, seeds when you snack. 4)If you take non veg have fish,chicken with rice thrice in a week. 5)Avoid junk food intake as it has empty calories. 6)Make an exercise plan and do some form of muscle building exercises. It will be best if you do under guidance of a trainer so that he can analyze and observe for changes. Exercises like squats, chin-ups and bench press help in weight gain. 7)Avoid smoking, alcohol if you are using them regularly. 8)Drink lots of water. You can consult a nutritionist who can guide you according to your cuisines and then keep tracking for changes. There is no substitute of eating a healthy diet for gaining weight. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

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Brief Answer: Take medicines after consulting your physician. Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for writing again. Taking multi vitamins will help in nutritional deficiency. This will not increase your appetite. You can take medicines like Dronabinol and somatropin after consulting your physician. Hope my answer is helpful. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Regards

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Brief Answer: Yes. You need to consult your physician. Detailed Answer: Dronabinol and Somatropin are both used to increase appetite and do help in gaining weight. Your physician will help you in choosing the best one for you after a physical examination and proper investigations. Both these are prescription medicines. You can take the investigation reports with you while going to your doctor. You will not have to do the tests again. Regards.

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