Causes of Rapid Weight Gain

• Growing older, an underlying medical condition, overeating due to stress and insufficient regulating of blood sugar can cause weight gain.
• Choosing a balanced and healthy diet full of whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein meats including chicken and fish, legumes and nuts is extremely important.

Weight gain can be a problem for many people. There are multiple reasons weight gain can take place and often once the weight is gained it is very difficult to take back off. Of course, if you work very hard and put great effort towards this goal, it is possible. This is where the saying “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips” rings quite true. However, a good start to “take it off” is to get your metabolism to work for you instead of against you. This will help to halt your weight gain, or at the very least slow it down. The harder you work at it, you will put into motion the processes necessary to help reverse the gaining so that you ideally end up losing weight.

Growing older is also one factor for weight gain. As we age, our bodies gradually become less efficient in most aspects. Your metabolism gradually slows down causing you to burn fewer calories. The result can be a slight or significant weight gain, and if you are eating improper foods and not exercising enough, this can become a progressive spiral.

Another possible factor for weight gain is an underlying medical condition. One such disease that can cause a notable weight gain is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is defined as a condition due to deficiency of thyroid secretion, resulting in a lowered basal metabolism. In this case the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone which helps regulate your metabolism. Unfortunately, as your metabolism slows down considerably, even a low calorie diet can cause you to gain weight. Your body may also start to retain water as well. The symptoms of this disease can include obesity, facial and eye swelling, tiredness, skin and hair that is dry and may lack luster, headaches, and low blood pressure to name a few. If you suspect that you have any of these symptoms you should discuss them with your doctor.

Stress eating or eating due to emotional disorders can bring about a weight gain. Many times when you are stressed out or emotionally distraught, you may reach for food for comfort. The is a common thread amoung many people and can be resolved with professional advice and steps you can take yourself to control these types of urges. Many people reach out for the “comfort food” but may not realize the harm it can cause. This food is high in fat, sugar, salt, and empty calories, giving your body none of the nutrients needed and plenty of material to build fat with. Many women, especially during monthly cycles, will reach out to foods like chocolate. Try to think carefully about what you are eating and why you are eating that particular food. Stop and ask yourself if you are really hungry, or if you are just bored or possibly depressed. If you are really hungry, a healthier snack, such as a banana instead of a piece of chocolate cake, will work as an alternative. For example, one great snack for chocoholics is a banana sliced up with one teaspoon of fat free chocolate syrup drizzled over it. This snack is very healthy and low calorie, yet you get to taste and fill the chocolate craving.

Insufficient regulating of your blood sugar can cause weight gain. Eating carbohydrates that are simple and processed can make your blood sugar level spike up. This in turn triggers your body to make insulin so the excess sugar is utilized and removed from your bloodstream. Once the insulin starts to work at metabolizing the sugar , your blood sugar may then drop to a lower than healthy level causing you to eat additional sugar to feel better. This can be an endless cycle, and in the meantime your body is storing all this excess sugar as storage fat and causing weight gain.

Maintaining a positive outlook will go far in the fight against weight gain. There are many things you can do to help no matter what is responsible for the excess weight. Choosing a balanced and healthy diet full of whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein meats including chicken and fish, legumes and nuts is extremely important. In addition, starting or increasing your exercise regimen will produce benefits as well as improve your metabolism for the right environment to re-acquire a healthy and attractive body weight.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.