Not able to gain weight

What would cause me not to gain weight or put on "fat"? I'm less than 11% body fat and 34yrs old, 120lbs. I excercise, but not overdoing it (4 times a week, about 1-1/2 hrs aerobics, weights). I could eat all I want and it wouldn't make a difference. I drink about 64oz of water a day. Other people can eat anything and gain weight. I don't eat a lot of fat other than olive/canola oil, peanut butter and fish, but aren't carbohydrates also converted to fat in the body? What causes a person not to put on fat?

I recently had heart surgery (4 months ago) and lost about 8lbs which I haven't been able to gain back. I've had constipation digestive problems going back a few years prior to my surgery and I'm working on those. I'm sure I could write volumes...

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Keith,
Inability to gain weight reflects caloric needs exceeding intake of calories.  This can be due to excessive exercise or not eating sufficient calories.  Fat is high in calories and small amounts can provide a lot of calories.  Inadequate digestion and absorption can also explain failure to gain weight.  A detailed evaluation by your doctor is needed to determine what is your cause.

[[e-mail]]

I am a 51 yr old female with "bouts" of pancreatitus (pancreatitis) since 8/1/98.  The "body and tail" of the pancreas are now atropy.  The pancreatic duct was blocked and a "stint" was put in via ERCP.  I had two biopsies Feb. 00 which I was told thought to be 90% cancer free.  How often do these stints need to be replaced.  I am told they are only temporary because they fill up solid from bile.  Is there anyway I can help prevent it from filling up by controlling my diet in any way?  What foods should I definetly stay away from and which should I make a normal part of my diet?  Supposedly the head of the pancreas is now swollen somewhat but thought to be temporary - is this true?  My average weight was 145lbs around 8/98 and is now 112-115lbs.  It hurts to eat solds.  I have been on a low fat/soft food diet for a month since a laproscopy of the pancreas/liver.  Since this laproscopy (and 3 days later which they inserted the stint via ercp) I have been in awful pain.  My lipace level was back up to near 1000 last week and was hospitalized for 5 days for pancreatitus (pancreatitis) again (the pain was so bad that I passed out in the car on the way to the hospital)scaring my husband to death (who has a bad heart).
    I am now home and on a 50mg "pain patch" which I change every 3 days.  I also had my gall bladder removed this past July,99.  I had a first cousin my age who died of pancreatic cancer almost 3 years ago.  My 22yr old son now has pancreatitus (pancreatitis) (for 2 months) but he does drink approx 6-8 beers/week.  The Drs. dont feel that is enough alchohol to cause pancreatitus (pancreatitis) - is it?  He takes PEPCID whenever is bothers him.
    I am supposed to go to the Cleveland Clinic Mar 15 for PAIN MANAGEMENT. I would like to go with a clear understanding of what is actually going on with my pancreas.  And, does this mean that I will have this pain the rest of my life?  Also, just curious, is there such thing as a pancreas transplant?  How much of the pancreas does a person need to survive?  I am not diabetic YET!  When a pancreas does become cancerous - what is the normal life expectancy?   Thank you so much for answering our questions.

[Bronwyn Harvey from Australia]

I hope that you can help me.
I am writing this on behalf of my mum. She was diagnosed with
Colon Cancer back in late Feb and is only 58.
She went into Hospital and had the cancer removed and she has
dropped weight to 45 kilos (not sure what the conversion is in
pounds) small anyway!!!  They noticed some spots on her liver and will go on the 14 of this month (april) to have a catscan,
to see if they can remove these from her liver. She did the
unfortunate thing of reading a book that said that if there
are some spots then it's most likely the whole liver is covered.
   She is very upset and all I know is that every case is diff-
erent and she needs to be positive. Naturally we are all very
scared for her and want to do all we can to keep her with us.
I would also like to add that Colonoscopies should be done
more than every 5 yrs as in my mum's case the doc failed to pick up the cancer which she had one just over 2 yrs ago and supposedly all was ok. Then 8 mth ago she went to him with
symptoms only to be told that she was fine and had had a
colonoscopy done .So in Feb the worst news was announced!!!!
   Is there anything that I can do or if you know of any
medicine to help her liver ? I even want to know about liver
transplants as I want to do all I can.
    Hope you can help and god bless
                   Bron

[Bronwyn Harvey from Australia]

I hope that you can help me.
I am writing this on behalf of my mum. She was diagnosed with
Colon Cancer back in late Feb and is only 58.
She went into Hospital and had the cancer removed and she has
dropped weight to 45 kilos (not sure what the conversion is in
pounds) small anyway!!!  They noticed some spots on her liver and will go on the 14 of this month (april) to have a catscan,
to see if they can remove these from her liver. She did the
unfortunate thing of reading a book that said that if there
are some spots then it's most likely the whole liver is covered.
   She is very upset and all I know is that every case is diff-
erent and she needs to be positive. Naturally we are all very
scared for her and want to do all we can to keep her with us.
I would also like to add that Colonoscopies should be done
more than every 5 yrs as in my mum's case the doc failed to pick up the cancer which she had one just over 2 yrs ago and supposedly all was ok. Then 8 mth ago she went to him with
symptoms only to be told that she was fine and had had a
colonoscopy done .So in Feb the worst news was announced!!!!
   Is there anything that I can do or if you know of any
medicine to help her liver ? I even want to know about liver
transplants as I want to do all I can.
    Hope you can help and god bless
                   Bron

[Answer by Kathey]

I know how you feel.  I am 32 years old and just recently started gaining weight.  I could never get to 100 lbs.  Even after I gave birth to my two children I could not keep any weight on.

The way I started gaining was was to eat bread at night before I went to bed.  That helped a lot.  I'm not sure if that would be a good thing for you to do.  Also, there are some pills I bought from the health food store.  They work miracles.  My girlfriend tried the pills and she recently gained over 10 lbs.  Let me know if you are interested in knowing about the pills/liquid.

[Ashley]

I used to not be able to gain weight. I was discustingly skinny.
I did not start to gain weight until i turned 21, ironically, that is when i started to pig out. Try eating atleast 3 meals a day and snack alot. I realize now that i was so skinny because i really used to eat like a bird.  You have to eat large meals on a regular basis to combat your high metabolism.  Or maybe go to college, get drunk every night, stuff yourself until your sick, and pass out.

[(joyce) [e-mail]]

My husband is 72 years old and is s/p chemo, radiation and sx. for esophageal CA (sloan-kettering protocal) in 1999.  He has regular CT scans and is cancer free.  The problem is that although he eats 5 or 6 meals daily (high in protein and fat), along with snacks, he is continuing to lose weight.  Proir to surgery he weighed 165 for about 50 years and now weighs between 129 to 133 lbs.  His doctors are baffled. What can we do?

[Tammy]

I am very interested in what kind of heart surgery you had that might help me answer your question.

[vickie]

I also have a problem gaining or maintaining weight and have had
all types of test that came out everything is OK.  I eat all day, three meals and snacks between each even one before breakfast. I eat mostly fruits, vegies and chicken but I make sure I get red meat at least once a week. I need to gain 10 - 15 lbs  and have been trying for two years.  I weigh 107 the lowest was 106 I'm 5'6".  I did make it up to 112 for about a month using the Met-RX protein powder.  When I stopped using it I dropped back to 106.  After reading everything I could get my hands on, I am now trying to get my DR to do a test for Malabsorption as I have several of the symptoms.  I am also going to alternative medicine and that DR says it's due to alergies (allergies) not allowing my body to work correctly.  This was after she did a test for energetic balance.  She has a plan of treatments and by now I am ready to try anything.   I hope something here has helped.

[andrea taylor]

i am 18 years old and i cantgain weight please help!

[amy aultman]

I am interested in the pills, liquid that Kathey talked about.