8 Typical Causes for Your Rapid Weight Gain

Something else could be going on if your food and exercise routines haven't altered and you're still gaining weight.

Of course, gaining weight isn't always an issue. However, it can be an indication of a medical problem you need to address. Perhaps there is a hormonal issue, a mental illness, or another element that is changing your physiology covertly. Consult with your healthcare practitioner if you want to be absolutely certain of what it signifies. While you wait, think about these eight health-related explanations that might help explain why the weight has increased.

thyroid dysfunction (Hypothyroidism)

Have you noticed any other physical changes besides the fact that your pants are becoming tighter, such as tiredness, drier skin, or thinner hair? The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck, which causes hypothyroidism, exhibits all of these symptoms when it doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. According to the American Thyroid Association, the thyroid is a master gland that regulates several bodily processes, so when it's not functioning properly, symptoms spread throughout your body.

The thyroid has a significant role in metabolism. "Imagine your body as a vehicle. Thyroid hormone keeps your engine's idling at a constant level if it has an engine "Health was informed by Michael Nusbaum, MD, a surgeon and the president of Nusbaum Medical Centers. "If your thyroid hormone production is insufficient, your idle decreases and your total energy expenditure decreases." According to Harvard Health Publishing, when your resting metabolism slows, it lowers the total amount of calories you burn during the day.

According to the American Thyroid Association, one in every eight women will have a thyroid issue at some point in their lives. Other signs to watch out for, according to Dr. Nusbaum, include muscular weakness, a persistent chilly sensation, bloating, and constipation. If your doctor determines that you have hypothyroidism, you'll probably be given a prescription for an oral thyroid hormone replacement that may reduce your symptoms within a few weeks.

ovarian polycystic syndrome (PCOS)

Another disorder brought on by unbalanced hormones is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). An imbalance in the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone characterizes this endocrine condition (women produce testosterone, too, though in much smaller quantities than men do). The US Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women's Health claims that this imbalance causes irregular menstrual cycles, acne, and even the development of facial hair.

According to Dr. Nusbaum, this condition, which affects one in ten women of reproductive age, also interferes with how the body utilises insulin, the hormone in charge of transforming carbs into energy. You guessed it—this results in weight increase. According to Dr. Nusbaum, when your body develops insulin resistance, the sugars and carbohydrates you eat are stored as fat rather being used as fuel.

PCOS cannot be cured, but its symptoms may be controlled with medicine and a change in lifestyle. You may get assistance from your doctor in choosing the best approach for you.

Weight Gain Due to Anxiety and Depression

Almost everyone has periodically turned to mindless eating as a coping mechanism for nervous or depressing moods. An study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in 2019 found that both of these mood disorders, however, might make overeating a typical coping method. Dr. Nusbaum used the illustration of opening a bag of chips. "You're not even tasting the chips anymore, your taste receptors are fully saturated with the flavor, but you're still eating, and you're wondering, Why am I still eating?" after three, four, then five handfuls.

Both anxiety and depression may result in drowsiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. All three of them have the potential to lower your fitness level or convince you to stop going to the gym completely.

Consider how you have been feeling lately. Consider contacting your healthcare practitioner for a referral to a mental health expert if you've been regularly low on yourself, on edge, uninterested in activities you typically love, or have had difficulties sleeping. An expert in mental health may assist in determining the cause of the problem. And appropriate care may assist you in maintaining a healthy weight.

Weight Gain During Menopause and Perimenopause

According to a 2017 analysis in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a decline in estrogen levels during menopause and perimenopause (the years before menopause) might result in a weight increase. According to Dr. Nusbaum, "the fast decrease in hormone levels in your body knocks you off-kilter quite rapidly."

Additionally, the excess weight brought on by menopause has a tendency to concentrate on the abdomen, which raises the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in particular. A good diet and consistent exercise help prevent weight gain.

Cushing's Syndrome

Your body responds to stressful or hazardous conditions by releasing cortisol, often known as the stress hormone, according to Diondra Atoyebi, DO, a family physician at Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia. But Cushing's disease may occur if your body produces excessive amounts of cortisol over a lengthy period of time. Unusual fatty deposits in the cheeks and abdomen are one unfavorable side effect.

According to Dr. Atoyebi, developing Cushing's illness is more probable if you use steroids for a prolonged period of time. According to the Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) Brain Institute, the illness may also be caused by tumors on the pituitary gland in the brain, which increases the synthesis and release of adrenocorticotropic hormone—the catalyst that instructs the adrenal glands to create cortisol.

According to the OHSU Brain Institute, Cushing's disease is characterized by weight gain, particularly in the upper body. Other signs and symptoms include stretch marks, acne, and easy bruising. Treatment options for Cushing's disease vary depending on the underlying cause. Your healthcare professional will work with you to decide which course of therapy is most appropriate if you have Cushing's disease.

Uterine or Ovarian Tumor

A 53-year-old Singaporean lady who arrived at the hospital wheezing had a 61-pound tumor removed from her uterus, according to a case report published in September 2018 by Case Reports. The tumor had probably been growing within her for years for it to get that big. It's an extreme example, but it demonstrates how massive pelvic region tumors, like uterine or ovarian tumors, may expand the belly like extra fat does and cause the scale to rise if left untreated. Although the tumor in the Singaporean woman's instance was benign, some tumors may be malignant.

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian or uterine tumor symptoms in addition to weight gain include lower back discomfort, vaginal bleeding, uncomfortable erections, and constipation. However, similar symptoms are typical for other ailments as well, according to Dr. Nusbaum, so you should always speak with your doctor to determine the underlying reason of the issue.

Drug-Related Causes

Ask your doctor whether weight gain is a potential adverse effect of any new over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine before beginning treatment. According to Dr. Nusbaum, weight gain is a typical side effect of psychiatric drugs, particularly those used to treat depression and bipolar disorder. "While they are meant to lessen your sadness, they unintentionally enhance your appetite for food since they work centrally on the brain."

According to Susan Besser, MD, a family practitioner at Mercy Personal Physicians in Maryland, medications used to treat high blood pressure may also lead to weight gain. Taking insulin to treat diabetes is another contributing factor since this medication occasionally results in weight gain. The American Diabetes Association claims that maintaining an active lifestyle and eating a healthy diet will help you manage the condition without gaining too much weight.

Fat Gain and Insomnia

You'll undoubtedly start munching on simple carbohydrates like chips, cookies, and sweets if you attempt to work all day on just four hours of sleep in order to get through the day. Why does tiredness cause these kinds of cravings? Lack of sleep alters the hormones that control appetite, according to Dr. Besser. A 2015 research in the journal Obesity found that ghrelin levels rise after a restless night, the hormone that signals to your body that it's time to eat. Leptin, the hormone that indicates fullness, may fall at the same time. When you combine the two, it makes sense why your belt is uncomfortable. But this doesn't happen over night. The reason of ongoing weight gain is sleeplessness.

Your decision-making may also be impacted by lack of sleep. Say you had a choice between eating a cookie or a banana. According to a 2016 research published in the journal Sleep, when you're fatigued, you become more impulsive, and that impulsivity may tempt you to go for higher-calorie items. Sugar also provides immediate energy, which your body will need when you're tired. A 2018 research indicated that obtaining more sleep may result in ingesting up to 10 grams less sugar during the day. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

And although eating a cookie won't make you gain weight right away, if you often pick sugary meals over nutrient-dense alternatives, you can see that weight creeping up.

Summary

Rapid weight gain may have a number of different reasons. Some of the causes are beyond your control, such as medical issues and sleep deprivation (which might result in medical disorders). However, you are in charge of what you choose to do in response to them. Visit your doctor, who can assist you in determining the reason behind your unexpected weight increase. When the underlying problem is identified, you'll learn what steps to take to regain a healthy weight.