Does anemia make you fat or lose weight?  - Your Health

Does anemia make you fat or lose weight? – Your Health

Anemia

Anemia is a condition that, in general, causes a lot of tiredness, as the blood cannot efficiently distribute nutrients and oxygen throughout the body, creating a feeling of lack of energy.

To compensate for this lack of energy, it is very common to feel like eating sweets, especially chocolate, which also contains iron, which can end up promoting weight gain.

Sweets offer energy in a simple way, but they also contain a lot of calories. These calories, associated with the lack of physical activity in people with anemia, tend to gain weight, especially while the anemia is not corrected.

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How to treat anemia to lose weight

If it is iron deficiency anemia, which is directly related to a diet poorer in iron, it is important to increase the consumption of vegetables and dark greens to increase the availability of iron in the blood. Check out the 7 best foods to treat anemia.

Furthermore, it is also important to choose to consume lean meats, such as chicken or turkey, as in addition to having iron, they are also rich in proteins, which help maintain the feeling of satiety, avoiding the consumption of excessive calories that could contribute to an increase in calories. of the weight.

In the case of vegetarians, in addition to vegetables, it is also recommended to supplement with vitamin B12, a type of vitamin that is normally only found in foods of animal origin and that improves the absorption of iron, facilitating the treatment of anemia.

How to identify the symptoms of anemia

In addition to a lack of energy, anemia is usually accompanied by general malaise, reduced concentration, irritability and constant headache. Take our online test to find out the chances of having anemia.

It is also important to do a blood test to assess the levels of ferritin, hemoglobin and hematocrit, which are reduced during anemia. People who recurrently suffer from anemia or who follow a more restrictive or iron-reduced diet, such as vegetarians, should take a blood test more frequently.