Unexplained weight gain: why do I get fat for no reason?
Weight gain, whether rapid or gradual, large or moderate, cannot be unexplained. The increase in body mass necessarily hides a metabolic cause or associated with lifestyle. Here are 10 reasons for sudden weight gain.
ReasonNo.1: Metabolic slowdown
Basal metabolismcorresponds to theincompressible energy needs that the body needs to function normally, at rest – breathing, brain activity, heart pump, thermoregulation, cell renewal, immunity. It is initially an innate fact: we are born with a more or lesssloworfast metabolism. However, certain factors can accelerate or slow it down. Andage-related metabolic slowdown, for example, is an inevitable phenomenon. Among other things, it is caused by avariation in hormonal secretions,sarcopeniaand agreater propensity for inflammation. Thus this slowing of the basal metabolism can explain the fact of gaining weight “without reason”.
Reason2:Sedentary lifestyle
Asedentary lifestyleis one of the leading causes of overweight. However, few people really know how to define it andoften confuse it with physical inactivity. But it actually corresponds to the timespent sitting or lying down during the day, excluding sleep time. Thus one can be physically active and reach the threshold of physical activity or sport recommended by the health authorities (typically do 30 minutes ofdaily walking), but be sedentary. And it is no longer a mystery that asedentary lifestyle is an aggravating factor of many chronic pathologies: mental illnesses, type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases… and obesity. Also, weight gain “for no reason” can actually be explained by a proven sedentary lifestyle – static work, hobby involving sitting, motorized transport.
Reason3:Quitting smoking
The BMIof smokers is generally statistically lower than that of non-smokers. A slight weight deficit explained by the satietogenic effect of nicotine, its impact on basal metabolism (slightaccelerator) and on the decrease in smell, taste and palatability in smokers. Quitting smokinginvolves a chain of bodily reactions often leading to weight gain: recovery of taste leading to greater food intake, food compensation related to loss of orality, loss of the effects of nicotine. Thus, quitting smoking can be one of the causes of weight gain considered at first unexplained.
Reason # 4 : Stress
- The choice of foods , preferably soft and sweet ( cheese , Chocolate , brioche, etc.) and incidentally high in Calories ;
- Gestures, orality being a soothing “ancestral” reflex (suckling when you are a baby);
- gastric fullness , because having a full stomach provides immediate satisfaction.
Also, stress can explain weight gain that seems unexplained at first glance.
Reason # 5 : Poor Sleep
, with a greater appetite for foods rich in sugar and fatstag. It is therefore possible to say that the quality of sleep plays an undeniable role in weight gain.
Reason 6 : the drug cause
Some drug treatments can cause weight gain through their mechanism of action on the bodytag. Thereby :
- certain antidiabetics, hormonal treatments, antipsychotics, antidepressants and corticosteroids can cause fat gain and oddsatiety ;
- some antihypertensive boostwater retention ;
- sleeping pills tend to lower energy expenditure by slowing metabolism;
- Tricyclic Antidepressantsincrease the feeling of thirst , which can lead to the consumption of caloric drinks (sodas, sugary fruit juices).
In such cases, it is advisable to consult your doctor, to assess the extent of the intake of times and possibly review the dosage or the treatment itself.
Reason # 7 : An Underlying Disease
tag. Thus, the fact of gaining weight has a reason, but which sometimes goes unnoticed for many years.. Thus, the fact of fattening has a reason, but that sometimes goes unnoticed for many years.
Reason # 8 : Genetics
Certain genetic predispositions, i.e. DNA mutations, facilitate the development of overweightand obesity. This is particularly the case of the LEPR gene, whose mutations modify the action of leptin, the satiety hormone. We are now able to identify more than 1200 genetic mutations that can have a direct impact on weight. Also, the predisposition to grow “for no reason” could be partof an individual’s genetic makeup.
ReasonNo.9: Endocrine disruptors
It is now proven (2) that the quality of the living environment can have a direct impact on weight. Indeed, exposure to chemicals and endocrine disruptorscan promote overweight. These substancesalter hormonal functioningtag. Sex, thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones, among others involved in weight homeostasis, could be directly affected by certain disruptors, such asbisphenol A , dioxinsgoldphthalatestag. Thus the apparently unexplained weight gain could in fact be a direct consequence of the living environment.
Reason 10 : the psychological context
Many studies(3) show apositive correlation between obesity andeating disorders. But more interesting (and worrying): this relationship is enriched by the presence of mental illnesses such asdepression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. And this relationship is maintained in a vicious circle: the overweight person, to lose weight, indulges in dietary restrictions (diets), which generate eating disorders (compulsions, bulimia). These losses of control over food then cause a whole range of negative emotions: frustration, dissatisfaction, guilt, loss of self-esteem, phobias, anger. These impairments of cognitive and psychological functioning then lead to a toxic idea: “to feel better, I must lose weight”. Thus the person immediately resumesdrastic diets … and the circle reproduces indefinitely, until it profoundly alters the physical and mental health of the individual.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.