Weight gain in a short period of time? this is 8 causes

Have you recently felt a sudden increase in weight? Unplanned weight gain can be a sign of a health condition. Then what health conditions can cause weight gain suddenly and drastically?

1. Thyroid gland disorders

The thyroid gland is a gland that functions to produce thyroid hormones in the body. The thyroid hormone itself plays an important role in regulating metabolism and digestion in the body. When the thyroid gland is damaged, this gland cannot produce thyroid hormones in normal amounts, so your metabolism will be disturbed.

This condition will actually occur naturally in elderly women. Metabolism is slowed down will cause weight gain suddenly. Usually, patients who experience this condition will be given drugs to stimulate the thyroid hormone in their body.

2. Treatment of diabetes mellitus

If you have diabetes mellitus and are taking insulin medication to control your blood sugar, then don't be surprised if you suddenly gain weight. Even though food intake is well regulated, diabetics who are given insulin injections have the potential to gain weight. The hormone insulin that is injected can affect appetite and regulate the amount of fat in the body, so it is not impossible if you suddenly gain weight.

3. Aging

As we get older, the muscle mass in the body decreases. In fact, most of the calorie burning is carried out in the muscles, so that if someone experiences a reduction in muscle mass, the calories burned every day will indirectly decrease. This decrease in the ability to burn calories certainly affects a person's body weight. The intake that is usually eaten every day cannot be burned so that it accumulates in the body and makes body weight gain.

4. Doing treatment using steroids

Steroids are a type of medicine that is also known as a corticosteroid and is used to treat several problems in the body such as asthma and joint inflammation. One of the side effects of using this steroid drug is an increase in appetite. An increased appetite without being accompanied by regular exercise will make you gain weight quickly.

5. Experiencing stress and depression

Don't underestimate the depression and stress you feel. It could be that this is the main cause of sudden weight gain. The body's response to stress will vary from person to person. Most people will probably use food as an escape from the stress and pressure they feel. The more depressed he feels, the more food he eats regardless of his health condition.

This is of course dangerous because people who are under stress are usually not aware of how much food they have eaten and cause sudden weight gain.

6. Fatigue and lack of sleep

Fatigue can be the reason why you gain weight drastically. Various studies suggest that people who experience sleep deprivation tend to be overweight compared to people who get enough sleep. This is because people who lack sleep will experience an increase in the hormone leptin in their body.

This leptin hormone plays a role in producing satiety and helps regulate appetite. When the leptin hormone is too high, the body will experience interference with the perception of satiety. The body will feel less full even though it has eaten a lot.

7.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) generally affects the function of the ovaries of women with symptoms of irregular menstruation and difficulty getting pregnant. Women with PCOS usually gain weight suddenly. This weight gain can be seen in the enlarged hips and waist. This is caused by changes in reproductive hormones that are not normal and affect the levels of fat in the body.

8. Experiencing swelling due to fluid

Weight gain is not only due to too much food intake. You may feel that you are not eating much but have suddenly gained weight and have swelling in several parts of your body, such as your feet and hands. This can be caused due to a buildup of fluid in the body which is usually the result of heart and kidney problems. If you experience sudden swelling, you should immediately see a doctor.