Unexplained weight gain - Balance Hormone Center

Unexplained Weight Gain

Unexplained weight gain can be frustrating and concerning. There are a variety of potential causes, ranging from lifestyle factors like diet and exercise to underlying medical conditions. Getting to the root cause typically requires troubleshooting and patience.

Some common reasons for sudden or unintentional weight gain include:

• Diet - Consuming more calories than you burn leads to weight gain over time. Things like eating more processed foods, restaurant meals, bigger portions, and high-calorie beverages can cause the pounds to creep up. It's easy to underestimate how many calories you're actually eating.
• Inactivity - Getting insufficient exercise negatively impacts metabolism and calorie burn. A sedentary lifestyle or decrease in activity levels - common as we age or face life changes - makes weight gain more likely. Getting 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week is recommended for weight maintenance.
• Medications - Some prescription drugs, like steroids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and epilepsy meds, list weight gain as a common side effect. Ask your doctor if your medications could be factors.
• Underlying Conditions - Issues like hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome are linked to trouble losing weight. See your doctor to test for these if lifestyle measures aren't working. Sleep apnea and insulin resistance are other candidates. Ongoing stress and high cortisol tend to increase belly fat storage as well.
• Aging - As we get older, hormonal shifts change body composition and metabolism. It becomes easier to gain fat and harder to build and maintain calorie-burning muscle mass. Adjusting diet and activity levels can help counteract age-related weight creep.

The key is not getting discouraged. Pay attention to portions, nutrition quality, meal timing, and activity levels. Make gradual adjustments, track your progress, and consult a doctor or nutritionist at Balance Hormone Center to dial in what works specifically for your body. Unexplained weight gain invariably has an explanation behind it that you can pinpoint over time. Consistency with healthy lifestyle habits can help get things moving in the right direction.