10 non-obvious reasons for gaining weight

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

While overeating and lack of physical activity are more commonly associated with weight gain, we have found more unusual causes. Perhaps our list will help you answer the question: why am I gaining weight?

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Lack of nutrients

If you do not get a balanced diet, the arrow on the scale can creep up, despite the low calorie content and exercise. Iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are essential nutrients that must be obtained from natural sources.

If you are deficient in any vitamin or element, the metabolism slows down, you feel a lack of energy.

Medicines

Taking medication can also cause weight gain. Contraceptives and some other pills, including antidepressants, steroids, and even diabetes medications, play an especially important role in this. If you notice that your weight has increased after starting a new treatment, tell your doctor about it and ask for alternative medications that will not have this side effect.

Hormonal imbalance

If your adrenal glands and ovaries are producing too much testosterone, you will gain weight and other unpleasant symptoms, including an irregular cycle. The sudden appearance of acne also serves as a signal of hormonal imbalance. Also, polycystic ovary disease leads to weight gain.

Lack of sleep

Even if you sleep 6-7 hours daily, your body may not get enough rest. Try going to bed half an hour or at least 15 minutes early to remove this cause from your list of unusual weight gain factors. Trust me, you will notice the difference. However, if you are tempted to increase your sleep time by more than 8 hours, then keep in mind the research results that prove that excess sleep also causes weight gain.

Thyroid problems

Weight gain may be one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but significant weight gain is still rare. If you have gained 3-5 kilograms, the problem may be in your thyroid gland. Such problems can also provoke fluid retention, but with proper treatment, the extra pounds will quickly go away.

Slow assimilation

Food stuck in the digestive tract for a long time can also trigger extra pounds, especially if you suffer from constipation. In this case, the intestines can cause a slowdown in metabolism, which makes weight gain an easy task, and attempts to lose those extra pounds are ineffectual.

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Depression

If you are depressed, you are most likely overeating. Unfortunately, most antidepressants increase appetite. If your doctor confirms the side effects of the pills, ask him to prescribe another medicine for you.

The state of the musculoskeletal system

Osteoarthritis and other conditions that affect the muscles, spine, and joints can trigger weight gain. Pain in the legs or joints is not conducive to exercise. Plantar fasciitis (heel spur) is another common cause of gradual weight gain.

Go swimming or talk to a podiatrist who can prescribe treatment to improve your general condition.

Stress

It is not necessary to go into depression, just stress has a negative effect on metabolism, significantly slowing it down, forcing the body to store fat in reserve. If the underlying cause is excess stress, you will gain weight around your waist. If you can't deal with stress, you are more likely to overeat on top of that.

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Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome

This condition is the rarest of all the strange causes of weight gain. In addition to a sharp increase in body weight, it is characterized by other unpleasant symptoms: from osteoporosis to problems with blood pressure. The disease causes the accumulation of fat mainly in the abdomen.