From the Guidelines
The medical term for difficulty gaining weight is "underweight" or more specifically "failure to thrive" in certain conditions, such as skeletal dysplasia. According to a recent study published in 2023 1, individuals with skeletal dysplasia, such as achondroplasia, may experience difficulty gaining weight due to various factors, including delayed feeding skills, gastrointestinal issues, swallow dysfunction, and dental issues. Some key points to consider in individuals with skeletal dysplasia include:
- High rates of underweight or "failure to thrive" have been reported in some rarer skeletal dysplasia conditions, such as diaphyseal dysplasia Camurati–Engelmann (75%), punctata (19%), rhizomelic chondrodysplasia (23%-100%), and Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome.
- The rates of underweight in skeletal dysplasia are higher than in children who present to hospital without conditions that affect height growth.
- Clear definitions of the terminology used, including the growth standards used for classification, should be included in future research articles.
- Condition-specific growth charts are available for some conditions, including rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, Saul-Wilson syndrome, and Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome, which can help diagnose and classify underweight. In terms of management, nutrition and weight management advice should be specifically tailored to the unique needs of individual skeletal dysplasia, taking into account factors such as pain, mobility, and physical activity limitations 1. This may include making nutritious food accessible and easy to prepare within the home, options for safe and effective physical activity that avoids pain, and utilizing telehealth to avoid additional travel to appointments. Overall, a comprehensive approach to managing difficulty gaining weight in individuals with skeletal dysplasia is essential, incorporating medical evaluation, nutrition counseling, and lifestyle modifications to promote healthy weight gain and prevent metabolic complications.
From the FDA Drug Label
Oxandrin is indicated as adjunctive therapy to promote weight gain after weight loss following extensive surgery, chronic infections, or severe trauma, and in some patients who without definite pathophysiologic reasons fail to gain or to maintain normal weight The medical term for difficulty gaining weight is not explicitly stated, but the condition is described as failure to gain or maintain normal weight 2.
From the Research
Definition of Difficulty Gaining Weight
The medical term for difficulty gaining weight is often associated with conditions such as cachexia or anorexia.
- Cachexia is a multiorgan, multifactorial and often irreversible wasting syndrome associated with cancer and other serious, chronic illnesses including AIDS, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 3.
- Anorexia, on the other hand, refers to a lack of appetite or decreased interest in food.
Treatment Options
Several treatment options are available for individuals experiencing difficulty gaining weight due to cachexia or anorexia, including:
- Megestrol acetate (MA), which has been shown to increase appetite and weight gain in patients with cachexia or anorexia 4, 5, 6.
- Other medications such as growth factors and anabolic steroids, which have been studied for their potential therapeutic roles in human cachexia and wasting 6.
- Hormone replacement therapy, which may be necessary for individuals with adrenal insufficiency caused by megestrol acetate treatment 7.
Associated Conditions
Difficulty gaining weight can be associated with various underlying medical conditions, including: