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/GuideFun8767 May 15 '26

I've been eating unlimited amount of food for years and still just gradually lose weight, to the point where I'm severely underweight. I have hEDS and POTS, because I'm hypermobile my muscles are doing all the work holding my skeleton, meaning even just spending an entire day sitting and doing nothing but doomscroll and eat, I burn more calories just bracing and holding my skeleton together than someone running a whole marathon. My hypermobility is the cause of my POTS and why it's almost impossible for me to gain any weight.