While it might seem like an “easy” way to fix something you feel is wrong, there is actually no way to take a pill to grow or gain weight. If you feel that your height or weight is below what it should be, first talk to your medical provider to find out if you have grown along your growth curve; some people are naturally smaller or larger than their peers. By the age of 20 there is not much that you can do about your height (stature) because most people have finished growing by that age. However, if you are interested in gaining weight and your medical provider has indicated that it is safe to do so, you might consider meeting with a registered dietitian for tips such as increasing your dietary fat consumption (adding things like nuts, nut butters, seeds, oils, and avocado to your intake) and eating regularly throughout the day.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.