10 Typical Reasons For Sudden, Unexplained Weight Gain, Per Doctor

Gaining weight is a normal aspect of life. Age, reduced exercise levels, muscle mass loss, a slower metabolism, and even your menstrual cycle may all contribute to weight gain. Unexpected weight increase is thus not necessarily cause for concern, particularly if you can identify the cause after giving it some thought.

So how can you tell whether it's okay to ignore that greater weight on the scale? It is worthwhile to discuss the issue with your doctor if the weight increase starts to result in joint aches (such as in the knees or hips), your mood is becoming worse, or you are becoming less and less active.

According to Naomi Parrella, MD, a family physician and obesity medicine expert at Rush University Medical Group, weight increase around the midsection in adults, outside of pregnancy, is often an indication of insulin resistance or insulin hypersecretion. It may also result from less frequent medical conditions including ovarian cancer or an overproduction of cortisol, which manifests as Cushing's syndrome.

Melina Jampolis, MD, a Los Angeles-based internist, advises patients to maintain a journal of their diet and exercise routines (including activities outside of workouts) for at least a few days, if not a week or two, prior to seeing a doctor. Perhaps you're consuming more calories lately, or perhaps your employment has required you to sit down more often than normal for weeks on end.

You are hypothyroid, to start.

According to Dr. Jampolis, the thyroid is often the first organ that doctors check when a young lady presents with unexplained weight gain. And with good reason: The American Thyroid Association estimates that an astounding one in eight women may have a thyroid issue at some point in their lives.

Your metabolism is regulated by the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, and if your thyroid is underactive (a condition known as hypothyroidism), your metabolism may slow down, leading to weight gain.

According to Dr. Jampolis, women with hypothyroidism may also have poor energy or weariness, dry skin, hair loss, muscular cramps, or constipation. If you have any of these symptoms, you should schedule a consultation with your doctor who may, if required, do a quick blood test to evaluate your thyroid.

2. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects you.

According to study, up to one in five women have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine condition that may cause irregular periods, facial hair development, and headaches among other unpleasant symptoms by upsetting the balance of the reproductive chemicals estrogen and testosterone.

According to Dr. Jampolis, PCOS may also interfere with how your body utilizes insulin, which is responsible for converting carbohydrates and starches into energy. As a result, PCOS sufferers often experience unexplained weight gain around the midsection.

A gynecologist would probably check your hormone levels if your menstrual periods are irregular in order to make this diagnosis.

3. You suffer from anxiety or sadness.

When you're under stress, your body shifts into a fight-or-flight state and releases a large amount of the hormone cortisol, which is intended to help you replenish your energy stores and store fat. As a result of the fact that you just ran three kilometers to escape a tiger (okay, dramatic scenario), you are famished.

The issue? According to Dr. Jampolis, many of us experience chronic stress from working at a desk all day or just leading a crazy life. Your body keeps accumulating fat while your cortisol levels are high for a long time, which might result in weight gain.

If stress appears to be the cause of your abrupt weight increase, see a doctor or mental health expert who can provide advice on how to get back on track if you've been feeling depressed, nervous, having problems sleeping, feeling tired, or losing interest in the things that used to make you tick.

4. You're not getting enough or quality sleep.

Nothing makes a lady desire sweets and fat like a bad night of sleep (anything to get through work the following day, right?). This is due to the negative effects that sleep deprivation has on your metabolism and hunger hormones: According to Dr. Jampolis, getting too little sleep causes your levels of leptin, the hormone that sends the "I'm full" sensation, to drop and ghrelin, the hormone that indicates it's time to eat, to rise. The outcome was a completely disappointing chow-fest the next day.

Putting off going to bed so you can watch one more episode? The abrupt rise in weight may have anything to do with that hour. A 2018 research published in the journal Sleep indicated that those who slept only one hour more per week burned more fat than those who slept one hour less. Even though everyone in the trial consumed the same amount of calories in relation to their starting weight, those who slept less nevertheless lost less weight.

5. You have a bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine (SIBO).

Probiotics, anyone?) The gut depends on beneficial bacteria to work properly, but your digestive system also harbors toxic bacteria. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO, for short), which results in increased gas in your GI tract as well as bloating, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and—you guessed it—sudden weight gain, may occur when the balance of healthy to bad bacteria is upset.

According to Dr. Jampolis, doctors are unsure exactly how SIBO may cause those additional pounds, but the condition is normally treated with medications to control the bacterial overgrowth. Altering your diet may also be beneficial.

6. You are experiencing perimenopause.

According to Dr. Jampolis, the perimenopause, also known as the menopausal transition phase, causes estrogen levels to increase and fall irregularly. For some women, this may lead to weight gain. Perimenopause can begin as early as the middle of a woman's 30s. Other perimenopause symptoms your doctor may often identify with her eyes closed include irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and a decrease in your libido.

Combining perimenopause with the other age-related physical changes (such as muscle mass loss and a rise in body fat) may make it seem like the scales are rapidly tilting. To successfully navigate "the transition," speak with your doctor.

7. You are currently taking medicine.

There is a long number of prescription and OTC medications that might cause water retention or abrupt weight gain, which is shown as more pounds on the scale. According to Roco Salas-Whalen, MD, an endocrinologist at the Medical Offices of Manhattan, "antidepressants—most often the selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil, Lexapro, and Prozac—may influence the appetite area in the brain.

Meanwhile, some steroids (such prednisone, an anti-inflammatory that promotes water retention and increases hunger) and beta-blockers (drugs that lower blood pressure) might slow your metabolism and lead you to gain weight. According to Dr. Salas-Whalen, even over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl, which may interfere with a brain enzyme that aids in controlling food intake, can cause very substantial weight gain.

A word of caution: Talk to your doctor before stopping any medications abruptly; they may be able to recommend an alternative that is less harmful to your waistline.

8. Cushing's illness affects you.

According to Reshmi Srinath, MD, an assistant professor of diabetes, endocrinology, and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Cushing's disease, which affects only 10 to 15 people per million, causes excessive cortisol production and can lead to excessive weight gain specifically in the abdominal region (the legs and arms typically stay lean).

It may sometimes be brought on by certain drugs, such as steroids used to treat autoimmune diseases and asthma.

"Cushing's disease often has comorbidities including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in addition to having severely low energy. However, extremely noticeable, red stretch marks on their tummy are the unmistakable clue, according to her. Consult your doctor right away if this sounds uncannily similar.

Dr. Parrella explains that Cushing's illness may be treated with medicine, radiotherapy, or surgery. Additionally, you'll want to lower your stress levels, which entails truly looking after yourself and regularly finding methods to recharge.

9. You lack fluids.

There is a cause for the bloat, and it can have as much to do with the water you neglected to drink as it does with the meal you consumed.

According to University of Florida Health's Kristen Neilan, RD, most people don't drink nearly enough water. This is due to the fact that many of us confuse hunger with thirst. She cites fatigue, dizziness, and confusion as symptoms of even slight dehydration. Sounds a lot like the want for a snack that we experience.

There are other factors that might be at play in your unexplained weight increase besides mixed signals. According to Neilan, "adequate hydration promotes mitochondrial activity, which essentially implies that it raises your metabolism." Your cells can't function effectively—that is, swiftly turn food into energy—without adequate water.

Drink lots of water, particularly if you're traveling at altitude, it's hot outside, you have a fever or an illness, or you're doing more physical activity than usual. Coconut water, clear broth, and of course pure water are all choices with the least amount of sugar.

Dr. Parrella advises starting to drink extra water if you notice that your urine is darker than normal or that you aren't visiting the restroom as often. Exhaustion, cramping in the muscles, and dizziness while rising up are other red flags.

10. Ovarian cancer is present in you.

According to Sanaz Memarzadeh, MD, PhD, a gynecologic cancer surgeon at UCLA Health, an ovarian tumor and the fluid accumulation associated with it may sometimes cause a growing belly. Patients often arrive with stomach bloating and complaining that their regular trousers are too small. "The tumor may sometimes be so enormous that the abdomen becomes distended."

After menopause, women are more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. But it's crucial for women of all ages to watch out for this symptom, as well as overeating, lower stomach discomfort, and increased pressure on the bladder. If the bloating continues, particularly if ovarian cancer runs in your family, see your doctor.