If you are underweight and have persistent difficulty gaining weight, consult your health care provider to rule out a contributing illness, such as thyroid disease or inflammatory bowel disease. The best method of gaining weight is the consumption of a balanced, high-calorie diet. However, when this fails, your practitioner may recommend that you begin taking weight gain supplements. These come in several forms and vary considerably in their safety and efficacy.
High-Calorie Supplements
Nutrition shakes, such as Ensure and Boost, provide a high number of calories in a small serving size. These facilitate weight gain by providing a large number of calories without being overly filling. High-calorie shakes are usually made from soy, whey or casein protein. Consult your health care provider before drinking these on a long-term basis, since a high intake of fat and protein may contribute to certain chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease.
Herb and Mineral Supplements
Several medicinal herbs can increase the appetite. The American Medical Association acknowledges the efficacy of cannabis, or marijuana, as an appetite stimulant, noting that it can increase weight gain in people with chronic diseases. The National Institutes of Health states that herbs such as blessed thistle and devil's claw may also help to increase a person's appetite, although these effects remain unproven. Zinc, a mineral micronutrient, may also help to boost appetite, particularly in the elderly.
Side Effects
Nutrition shakes only rarely cause notable short-term side effects. You may experience mild digestive upsets while using them, but serious complications are unlikely. Medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in most jurisdictions, can cause serious side effects, including cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, mood changes, impaired judgment and changes in sensory perception. The National Institutes of Health reports that devil's claw and blessed thistle can cause stomach irritation, diarrhea and digestive upsets. Consult your health care provider if these problems are persistent or severe.
Considerations
Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky recommends a healthy diet as a primary method of gaining weight. If you are using weight gain supplements, select healthy, high-calorie foods to improve your ability to gain weight. Zeratsky recommends the consumption of whole-grain breads, cheeses, lean meats, legumes, nuts, dried fruit and avocados to people trying to gain weight. Even if you are underweight, it is inadvisable to eat sugary or heavily processed foods as these increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Warning
If you are severely underweight, a physician or dietitian should supervise your weight gain regimen. If you have a medical condition, your health care provider may recommend that you avoid certain weight gain supplements. For example, people with kidney and liver diseases should not use high-protein nutrition shakes for extended periods of time. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid herbal weight gain supplements, including cannabis, devil's claw and blessed thistle, due to an increased risk of miscarriage and other complications. Note that medical cannabis is illegal in many jurisdictions; its unapproved use can lead to criminal charges.
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