Have you taken your weight every day, and the needle has been pointing higher than before? You walk a mile early in the morning, but your clothes are shrinking and suffocating you. Do not worry. A lot of people gain weight without doing anything to increase their calories.
What could be some of the possible explanations for unintended weight gain?
Certain conditions can increase your weight without any particular reason.
If you have disturbed sleeping patterns or suffer from insomnia, you are most likely prone to quickly gaining weight. This has been proven through research as well. Other studies have suggested that when people are sleep deprived, ghrelin, i.e., a hunger hormone, is released in higher quantities, thus leading to episodes of late-night snacking. Certain medications are known to add to the pounds, especially antidepressants, anti-seizures, corticosteroids, and antihyperglycemics.
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Depression itself is associated with an increase in appetite and weight gain. Seasonal affective disorder, also called SAD, also leads to weight gain. Cortisol, the stress hormone, increases our urge to eat, and we comfort ourselves with high-calorie, unhealthy food.
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Endocrine disorders are usually the culprits behind causing an increase in weight. The endocrine system includes adrenal glands, thyroid glands, and ovaries. These are responsible for regulating hormonal balance, and an imbalance can lead to a gain in weight.
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Bloating is a feeling of fullness and tightness around the abdomen. This might give away a sense that you have gained additional pounds, but in reality, it might be just a swollen abdomen.
Pregnancy is another condition in which a woman gains weight unintentionally as the baby grows. This extra weight is on the baby, placenta, uterus, amniotic fluid, and increased blood supply.
How can hormones affect your weight?
Every woman reaches a stage in her life called menopause. During this phase, the hormone estrogen is decreased to a level that cannot cause menstruation. In the years followed by Menopause, weight gain and changes in fat distribution are commonly observed. But it eventually slows down after the first year.
Hormonal changes in the middle years slow down your metabolism and hence lead to a gain in weight. Another cause of weight gain is a polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Some medical conditions affect hormonal levels and can cause weight gain, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and increased aldosterone production.
Birth control pills, aka contraceptives, have estrogen and progesterone and can lead to temporary weight gain.
What could be the treatment plans for unintentional weight gain?
There are several options to go for while trying to suddenly shed off the extra pounds gained. But the wisest thing is to rule out the cause and work on it accordingly. In case of hormonal imbalance, long-term treatments are suggested in most cases. Your doctor might prescribe you medication to balance out the hormones. What medicine to take depends entirely upon the specific hormone that is affected.
If the cause is any particular medicine, stop it with your doctor’s permission and ask him to prescribe an alternative. If there is no substitute, then it all depends on the significance of that medicine. If it is essential, do not let the weight gain discourage you from taking your treatment correctly.
Quitting smoking, if you are a smoker, has helped many people. It automatically decreases your appetite and cuts down on your weight. Unhealthy calories continually disrupt your normal physiological functions, so keeping your weight on the healthier side and ensuring your well-being is essential.