Talk to Dietitian/Nutritionist on First-year Engineering Student Forgets Lecture Content Despite Studying Hard - Underweight And Memory Concerns

Hello Doctor,

I am writing for my son. He is in first year of engineering.

His main issue is that despite listening attentively in lectures and writing notes with focus, he forgets most of the content afterward. He studies hard and puts in a lot of effort, but his retention is very poor.

He is also quite thin and underweight. His appetite is low. He gets tired easily.

We are concerned if this is due to a nutritional deficiency (like Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D), lack of sleep, stress, or a focus/memory issue.

No history of head injury, fits, or major illness. No smoking or other addictions. Sleep is around 5-6 hours due to studies.

We live in Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi.

Please advise: 1. What initial blood tests or nutritional assessments should we do? 2. Should we consult a Nutritionist first or a Neurologist / Psychologist? 3. Any diet plan for healthy weight gain and better memory/focus for a student?

Thank you.