How can I add weight around my hips and bust?

Dear Doc,

I am a 24-year-old woman, and I have always been very thin. I’d like to be as well-endowed as my peers. I have tried eating a lot of junk food to try and add weight with no success. Is there a way I can gain weight, especially around the hip area and bust?

Mareta

Dear Mareta,

Being too thin, in medical terms would mean that you have a low Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in comparison with your height. The normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25. If your BMI is below 18.5, you are said to be underweight. This may be due to genetics, because your body uses a lot of energy to perform everyday functions, due to lack of adequate food, engaging in a lot of physical activity, or due to an underlying illness or poor mental health.

Whereas some people add or lose weight easily depending on diet and prevailing circumstances, others do not change their weight easily. This is mostly due to genetics, which unfortunately cannot be changed. It is actually healthier to have a body weight that does not fluctuate much. As you grow older, it will become easier to add weight as your metabolism slows down.

The notion that to be healthy you have to be “fat” is not right. If your weight is consistent at a healthy level, and you do not have any other health concerns like getting sick frequently, then there is no cause for alarm. Focus on eating a balanced diet, take frequent small meals, exercise and avoid unhealthy practices like smoking or taking too much alcohol. You can visit a nutritionist to advise you on what foods and quantities to take.

There is no way to make sure that the weight you add only goes to the bust and hips, because body shape is also determined by genetics. Excess body fat can be managed through proper diet and physical exercise directed by a professional personal trainer.

Dear doctor,

Several weeks ago, I had a lot of pain in my right foot. When I went to hospital, I was told that I have gout. I thought this disease only affects men who take a lot of alcohol. Kindly assist.

Maureen

Dear Maureen,

Gout occurs when there is accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints or tendons. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down purines, which are a part of some foods. Uric acid builds up if a lot of it is produced and the body is unable to handle it as it should. The excess then builds up in the joints, causing inflammation.

Most times, the pain develops very quickly, maybe overnight, and the affected joint is warm, swollen and red. The most commonly affected joint is at the base of the big toe. Other joints can also be affected, such as ankles, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows. The pain is severe for several hours or days, then it subsides.

There is a higher risk of developing gout if someone in your family has it, or if you are male or a menopausal woman, and if you are older in age. Other risk factors include obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, kidney disease and hypertension. Some medications also increase the risk of getting gout.

There are medications to reduce the uric acid levels and others to reduce the pain and inflammation. You may be advised to take the uric acid lowering medication for a long time. To prevent gout attacks, take a lot of fluids, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, take a balanced diet with a lot of vegetables and dairy products, minimize foods with high purine content like meat, sea food and organ meats (like liver and kidneys), reduce alcohol intake, avoid sugary drinks and snacks and stop smoking.

Hi,

Why do some people have very bad period pain?

Rehema

Dear Rehema,

Painful periods are referred to as dysmenorrhea. There are two types – primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs due to spasms or contraction of the uterine wall during menstruation and also due to release of some chemicals called prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It starts within the first few years after the beginning of periods, and it affects almost half of all women.

Secondary dysmenorrhea occurs due to an underlying problem, such as fibroids, endometriosis or pelvic disease. It starts later in a woman’s life and treatment of the underlying problem will usually get rid of the pain.

Severe dysmenorrhea may be associated with longer, heavier periods, early age of onset of periods, family history of severe pain during periods, smoking and obesity.

Treatment involves medicines to manage the pain and reduce the uterine contractions. Other measures that may help include physical activity, warm compresses and getting enough sleep. If the discomfort is very severe, oral contraceptives may be used. Pregnancy and giving birth may affect the severity of the discomfort in later cycles.

Hey Doc,

Sometimes, when I cough or talk, some white balls come from my throat, and they smell very bad. What could be the cause?

Momanyi

Dear Momanyi,

The foul-smelling white or yellow balls from the throat are called tonsil stones or tonsiloliths. The tonsils are lymphatic glands in the throat. Bacteria, mucus, dead cells, and food particles can become trapped in the folds on the surface of the tonsils. The trapped substances then coalesce together and form the bad-smelling chunks. Tonsil stones are more common in people with chronic tonsillitis as well as those with sinusitis and post-nasal drip.

These stones may cause bad breath, bad taste in the mouth, throat discomfort, difficulty swallowing or ear pain. Other than this discomfort, tonsil stones are usually not dangerous.

To manage them, observe good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after meals, gargle using salt water or a mouth wash to reduce throat discomfort and the bad breath, or you can have the stones removed by the doctor. Before brushing your teeth, remove food particles from your mouth by drinking water and swishing it in your mouth then spitting it out.

A permanent solution is to have the tonsils removed, especially if there is recurrent inflammation. If you have sinusitis, it should also be treated by a specialist.

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