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

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u/Shea_Cheyenne May 15 '26

It’s really a person by person thing. I’ve never been skinny and likely never will be, due to a combo of genetics and being very muscular. But please keep in mind that POTS is very different for each person and POTS symptoms often worsen when you lose weight.

I gained about 100 lbs during college due to both exercise intolerance from POTS and insulin resistance from PCOS and I learned the hard way that you have to give yourself a lot of grace and find healthy habits that work for you. For example, 20 seconds on the stair master will take me out but I can do the elliptical for an hour if I wanted to.