Why is it that some people remain slender despite eating? Some say it's genetics which is not wrong at all but is that the only contributing factor?
What other factors could make people not gain weight? The star interviewed nutritionist Henry Ngethe to get a proper expert's insight on this.
Ngethe said metabolic systems are usually different and vary from one person to another.
The ability of one person’s body to metabolize the nutrients that they eat sometimes could be different and this could be due to several factors, Ngethe stated.
He added that the nutritional status of an individual, some hereditary factors and absorptive capabilities of a person can slow down a slender person's ability to gain weight.
According to Ngethe, there can be other factors that influence the way an individual might be able to digest and assimilate or absorb food products.
"There is a component that is usually brought about by Environmental Enteric dysfunction (EED) which results in the reduction of the body’s capability to be able to absorb nutrients simply because of inflammation of the body," Ngethe said.
EED refers to an incompletely defined syndrome of inflammation, reduced absorptive capacity, and reduced barrier function in the small intestine.
Other factors may be related to hygiene, lack of proper hygiene may lead to inflammation of the villi.
Villi are tiny, finger-like projections made up of cells that line the entire length of your small intestine. Villi absorb nutrients from the food you eat and then shuttle them into your bloodstream so they can travel where they're needed.
"Worm infestation is also another reason why people do not gain weight," Ngethe said
He said the worms in a person's stomach usually compete for the same nutrients as them and if not dewormed will lead to others not gaining weight despite eating well.
When you engage in physical activities that require a lot of energy then you also need to eat a lot, Ngethe stated
"Some people engage in vigorous activities but do not eat enough to compensate hence they do not gain weight."
He also said that some people may be suffering from a disease that slows down their absorption rate leading them to become or stay slender as not everyone gets medically assessed.
Ngethe added that genes also play a role in remaining slender, this is to say that if members of your family have certain features or body types then you are likely to get them. But keep in mind it does not play a huge role.