What is unexplained weight gain?
Unexplained weight gain refers to gaining weight without an obvious cause. There are many potential reasons for unexplained weight gain to occur.
Common causes include:
- Hormonal imbalances - Issues with hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones can lead to increased hunger, fluid retention, and fat storage. Hormone imbalances can happen due to stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, medical conditions, or aging. Getting a hormone panel test at a clinic like Hormone Harmony Clinic can help identify and treat hormonal causes of weight gain.
- Medications - Some prescription medications like steroids, antidepressants, and seizure medications list weight gain as a common side effect.
- Aging - As we get older, hormonal changes and decreased muscle mass make it easier to gain weight even without changes to diet and exercise.
- Stress - High stress levels stimulate the body to release more cortisol, which can increase appetite and drive fat storage around the abdomen. Managing stress through self-care activities can help.
- Poor sleep - Not getting enough quality sleep fuels the hunger hormone ghrelin and impairs the satiety hormone leptin, which can promote overeating. Getting on a regular sleep schedule helps regulate appetite.
- Medical conditions - Issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, and insulin resistance affect weight regulation. Seeing your doctor can help diagnose and treat any underlying conditions.
If you’re experiencing unexplained weight gain, you should:
- Track your diet, exercise, sleep, and mood for insight into triggers
- Get lab tests done to check hormones, blood sugar, etc.
- See your doctor to screen for associated health conditions
- Consider medications, supplements, diet changes under a doctor or nutritionist’s guidance
- Reduce stress through self-care activities
- Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night
Unexplained weight gain can be frustrating and complex to address. Getting to the root cause with thorough tracking and medical testing is important, as is adopting sustainable diet, exercise and lifestyle changes tailored to your situation. Enlisting help from healthcare providers like Hormone Harmony Clinic can ensure all potential reasons for weight gain are explored using their state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and personalized treatment plans to get your weight back on track.