Diet, genetics, and level of activity are some of the typical reasons given for weight gain. What you might not realize is that there are many other reasons for weight gain, many of which people do not typically think about. If you have unexplained weight gain without changes in your diet, lifestyle, or activity level, your weight gain may be due to one of these atypical reasons.
Hypothyroidism
When patients walk into a GP surgery with unexplainable weight gain, one of the first things doctors checks is their thyroid. The thyroid is responsible for the production and release of a hormone that is responsible for metabolism. In the case of hypothyroidism, the gland does not produce enough of this hormone, which leads to metabolism dysregulation first and weight gain later.
Hypothyroidism is associated with other symptoms that include low energy levels, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, and others. Hypothyroidism is typically treated with hormones, but there are different natural treatments for hypothyroidism.
The best natural treatment for hypothyroidism is changing your diet to consume more carbohydrates. This might seem counterintuitive but prolonged periods of caloric deficit slow your thyroid further making and makes the issue worse.
You Are Not Getting Enough Sleep
Many people do not associate their weight gain with sleep issues. A lot of people who do not get enough sleep tend to crave sugar and fats to drive them through the next day. This happens because reduced amounts and quality of sleep messes with your hunger hormones and metabolism.
Too little sleep triggers the release of ghrelin while reducing the levels of leptin. The first hormone signals it is time to eat while the latter is responsible for letting you know you are full.
You Have Increased Bacteria In Your Gut
Bacteria are very important for the proper functioning of the digestive system. There are both “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut that exist in perfect balance. If this balance is off and there is an increase in the “bad” bacteria, you would experience bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight gain.
Although the exact mechanisms of how this weight gain happens are not yet well understood, there are enough studies that show a correlation between gut bacteria and weight gain.
You Have Depression or Anxiety
Stress causes the body to stay in a state of flight or flight where there is a constant surge of both adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, and it signals the body to restore energy reserves. One of the ways the body does this is by storing more fat.
The problem is that many people are chronically stressed from their work and daily lives. Cortisol levels, therefore, stay elevated for long periods leading to continuous fat storage and therefore weight gain.
If you have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, feel down, or have lost interest in things you used to love, you should see a doctor so they can help you manage your stress.
Conclusion
Unexpected weight gain can make you anxious especially when you do not know why it happened. Beyond looking at the typical reasons, you should also look at the ones above that many people do not even consider.