Brief Answer:
A balanced diet will help.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I understand your problem.

There are several reasons for failure to gain weight. Commonest cause is less calorie intake, high basal metabolic rate [ some people burn more calories even when resting ] disorder called anorexia when women eat and then vomit it out in fear of gaining weight, hyperthyroidism, chronic infections like lung or kidney infections, tuberculosis [ very common in India], diseases related to the immune system [ auto immune disorders] and very rarely cancers.

So if she this is a long standing problem then get her evaluated by a physician for any underlying condition. If a cause is found then treating it will help gain in weight.
The average calorie need for a woman aged around 40 doing moderate activity are 2400 calories. So if a gain in weight is desired then calories more than this must be eaten.
As of now, please try a diet schedule for her to help gain weight. The gaining must be a slow process and must ensure that the weight gained is more protein or muscle mass and not fat.

Most of the energy must come from carbohydrates and proteins and and a small amount from oils and fats. She must take rice and related foods like chapati, pasta, bread and corn flakes etc about 5 servings per day [ during the whole dady]. At least 2 fruits and 2 servings of protein dense food like egg, fish, meat or if vegetarian sprouts and beans.

A typical diet plan for her must be a cup of milk or tea in the morning with 2 biscuits at 7 am. Breakfast at 9 that may be either 3 idlis with sambar and chutney or 1-2 dosa [ depending upon the size] with sambar, 4 dhokla, 2 paratha, 1 plate upma or poha or similar food. A fruit or lassi or yogurt at 11 am. Lunch at 1 pm including 2 chapatis, a cup of rice and a cup of vegetable, sprouts or meat or egg, salad and yogurt. She may include a sweet in small quantity if desired.
At 4 pm a fruit and may have tea. At 6 pm another protein in the form of protein powder added to milk or egg white may be taken and dinner at 8-9 pm similar to
lunch but may be lesser in amount may be taken.

Use of B complex vitamins helps improve digestion and neurobion forte tablets twice daily may be added in addition to neogadin elixir if the appetite is less. With this diet she will start gaining weight in a few weeks provided she is not over worked. If the work is more, add calorie dense food like a sweet daily.

Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.     
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist

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Brief Answer:
You are most welcome.

Detailed Answer:
It was a pleasure answering the query.

Dr Madhuri

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