Gaining Weight Out of Nowhere: 5 Possible Causes

We are all, in theory, familiar with the science of weight loss, which is rather simple: losing weight equals burning more calories than you eat, while gaining weight equals eating more calories than you spend.

And while this is essentially true, and weight gain is most often attributed to extra calories you may not even be aware of – as not many of us count calories on a daily basis – there are scenarios where you can gain weight and a surplus calorie intake may not be the culprit.

Our body is a complex mechanism where everything is connected – so let’s explore what other connections might be causing that unpleasant weight gain.

Stress

Stress is the main cause of most of life’s evils – and as such, it can cause a significant disruption in your hormone levels, resulting in that annoying weight gain.

When we are under stress, a hormone called cortisol is produced. Cortisol will increase your appetite, keep you up at night, and generally place your body in a near fight-or-flight state, where you feel tense, irritable, and overall unpleasant.

There are many solutions you can try to reduce your stress levels – the most beneficial one being exercise. Working out regularly will not only help keep your hormone levels in check, but it will also help you lose weight.

Poor sleep

The importance of sleep is increasingly underrated in our society – yet quality sleep is responsible for so many of the body’s crucial processes.

Not getting enough sleep will have a negative impact on your immune system, mood, and energy levels, and it can also lead you to feel more hungry throughout the day. And when you are sluggish and sleepy during the day, you are not likely to get enough exercise in either.

So instead of prioritizing everything else over sleep, do the exact opposite: make sleep the most important task of the day and organize your day around it. Determine how much you need to sleep based on your age (don’t forget to factor in your lifestyle as well), and no matter how hard it is to get into a healthy sleeping routine, don’t give up on adopting this beneficial habit.

Medication

Certain medication can also cause weight gain for a whole variety of reasons, so if you are taking anything (even something as simple as a pain killer for your migraine), make sure you explore what some of the side effects might be.

There have also been claims that birth control pills cause weight gain, although research has not yet been entirely conclusive on the matter.

If you discover a medicine you are taking can be the cause of the excess weight, talk to your doctor and see how you can tweak the doses or if there is an alternative you can try – don’t do anything on your own, as you may inadvertently cause more harm.

Water weight

Water retention is actually often the culprit behind excess weight – in which case you have not actually gained any fat; you are just holding on to water for whatever reason.

Sodium is often to blame, and excessive sodium intake is easy to spot – just look at the amount of salt you eat and look for it in sauces, dressings, bread, prepackaged meals, and your frozen dinners.

Cutting down on your sodium intake will help get rid of the water weight, and your weight should be back to normal.

However, there might be another reason you are holding on to the water, and it might come as a surprise. When you are not drinking enough water, your body will hold on to the amount it is getting, to ensure it has enough, as its water supply is scarce.

The solution to this problem is simple – just up your daily water intake. It will have a positive impact not just on your weight, but the quality of your skin as well.

Underlying medical conditions

Your weight gain might be caused by a medical condition – and the two most common culprits are issues with your thyroid or polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones, which can result in excess weight, as well as make you feel weak and sluggish. If you are feeling off and have gained weight, you might want to do a blood test to check your hormone levels and ensure they are not the cause.

PCOS also has other symptoms you need to watch out for: irregular periods, acne, excess body hair, and unfortunately, weight gain. If you think you may be suffering from the condition, make sure to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

How to make sure

Before you jump to any conclusions, the simplest thing to do is some math.

First, calculate your BMI and determine how many calories you are burning daily. Add to that any other spend: exercise, movement, daily activities. Once you have this number, compare it to your calorie intake: and don’t forget to factor everything in, including snacks, munchies, and drinks. Doing a meal journal for a week can give you a great estimate of the amount of energy you are feeding your body.

If these numbers seem fine (you are not eating more than you are spending) – the time has come to look into other culprits. Take a look at your sleep and stress levels, and consider your general health.

Even if it takes some time to uncover the cause of your weight gain, rest assured that there is a cause. You might just need to play detective for a while to figure it out.