Awareness of obesity and how it affects an individual's life and health is widespread. Everyone knows that having a bulging waist line means a poorer quality of life. Someone who is overweight or obese will not only have to contend with heart disease, diabetes and stomach and colon cancers, he or she will also have a lot of psychological and social issues to worry about.

However, rarely do we see the opposite pole. Being underweight is also a serious concern, but it doesn't get as much as attention as its overly fat cousin. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it's not much of an issue among most Americans who weigh way more than the bathroom scale can register. But it doesn't mean that being underweight is not serious nor does it have its accompanying health risks. An underweight individual also is at increased risk for heart failure, osteoporosis, hip fractures, erectile dysfunction (in men) and certain cancers.

An individual may fail to put on weight mainly because of two reasons-- poor nutrition and an underlying medical condition. While the latter needs the assessment of a medical professional (such as when the weight loss is sudden and could indicate anorexia, bulimia or cancer), those who are underweight because of poor eating and nutritional practices can easily be remedied. Often, the solution for weight gain simply lies in a better diet and regular exercise.

Just because a person is underweight doesn't give him or her the license to eat junk food or drink unlimited quantities of soda. Ironically, the same dietary principles for weight loss also apply for weight gain: Take your calorie sources from foods that are healthy and nutritious. This means your usual fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, poultry, nuts, seeds and legumes. However, individuals who are underweight should add calories to their every meal. If overweight individuals are urged to mind their portions, they are also asked to do the same-- only that they should have larger, not smaller, servings. Protein powders are usually recommended for weight gain. They are ready to mix powders which can be mixed with fruit smoothies and taken as snack drinks.

The recommended exercise regimen for the underweight individual is resistance training and not cardiovascular exercises like running or walking. Lifting weights or bodyweight exercises, when done as prescribed, have been proven to add muscle and assist in an individual's desire to reach his or her ideal weight. Aerobic exercises may cause more weight loss and should be avoided or done only in minimal amounts.

Being underweight is just as unhealthy as being overweight. By adding more calories to his or her diet and engaging in resistance exercises, the underweight individual will finally be able to see changes in his or her body and overall health and wellbeing. The lethargy is constantly diminished and replaced by more vibrant energy. Like weight loss, however, the road to weight gain is not an easy one. It can be just as difficult to gain weight as it is to lose it. The underweight individual must be patient enough to stick with his or her diet plan and exercise regimen to add more pounds to his or her frame the healthy way.