Recently, a That's Fit reader sent us a question. Several years ago she had a stroke. Since then she has lost too much weight and was looking for advice on gaining weight healthfully. It's such a great question. So often health and wellness sites focus on tips for weight loss, but anyone who's on the other side of the scale needs help, too. Just like there are unhealthy ways to lose weight, there are also unhealthy ways to gain it. It's important to work with a professional to gain weight healthfully.

Weight loss is common in stroke survivors. In fact, a cousin of mine had a stroke a couple of years ago and has subsequently lost far too much weight. While the reasons could be different for every survivor, some possible reasons for weight loss include difficulty swallowing, depression, decreased food intake, and neurological conditions that make eating difficult.

If you or someone you know is a stroke survivor and has experienced severe weight loss, the first step is to see your doctor. Your doctor will likely run tests to verify that there is nothing else that's causing the weight loss. If no other issues are discovered, you will likely be referred to a registered dietitian. An RD can give you personalized advice on how to gain weight healthfully and maintain that weight gain. The American Stroke Association has more information for living a healthy life after a stroke.