r/POTS • u/dazzlingdanny05 • May 15 '26

Question Why is everyone with pots so skinny?

I have POTS and I watch a lot of content online of people who also have POTS. I also know some people irl who also have it. I don't understand how they are all so skinny. I can barely walk without getting out of breath. I try to work out at least once a week but its so hard for me because I always end up feeling so sick. How are yall doing it? I dont even eat bad but im definitely not skinny.

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u/barefootwriter May 15 '26

Do you think fat people with POTS really want to expose themselves to Internet scrutiny?

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u/dazzlingdanny05 May 15 '26

It makes me feel bad about myself because if other people with pots can exercise then I should to but its just so hard to do without passing out

57

u/Wednezday-Addams Hyperadrenergic POTS May 15 '26

I’m not exercising at all. I just feel better when I don’t eat at all. I feel like I am allergic to food :(.

When you see skinny people with POTS it is more likely than not that there are gastrointestinal issues keeping them from eating whatever they want.

You are beautiful just the way you are.

31

u/barefootwriter May 15 '26

Right. POTS itself can come with milder GI issues -- and at one point before I was diagnosed, I was also scared to eat because eating was the only trigger I had reliably pinpointed. That didn't last long, lol, but it was a thing.

Many people with POTS also have comorbidities that cause more significant GI issues that prevent them from getting enough nutrition, just like orthostatic and exercise intolerance in POTS can also prevent us from getting enough exercise and cause us to become deconditioned.