It seems like every government report these days is about how people in the UK are becoming more overweight and obese by the minute. This increase in body weight and fat is affecting the majority of people, despite the throngs of slimming diets and personal trainers advertised in magazines and newspapers. But what of those people who are actually underweight and need to gain a few pounds, instead of shed them?

Unfortunately, gaining weight healthily is not as easy as you may think. You can't scoff burgers and chips all day long since a nutritionally balanced diet is vital for health. People who want to gain weight need to choose sources of essential nutrients from the four main food groups, and limit those from the fifth group, since they are high in sugar and fat. Here's a description of the five food groups as defined by the Food Standards Agency and the Health Development Agency in the UK:

Bread, cereals and potatoes: includes breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, yams and oats
Fruit and vegetables
Meat, fish and alternatives: includes tofu, eggs, nuts and beans
Milk and dairy products: includes cheese and yoghurt
Foods containing fat and foods containing sugar: includes crisps, sweets, butter and carbonated drinks

So how does this information translate into practical advice you can follow every day?

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Healthy ways to gain weight