Weight gain, but not from food? this is 8 causes

Usually, weight gain is always associated with large portions of food. That is true, especially if you also rarely exercise daily. However, if you gain weight even though you have a small portion of your daily meal and you are always active in physical activity, the increase in this scale number may be influenced by other factors that you may never be aware of. Here comes the review

The cause of weight gain continues, even though you eat a little

1. Pregnancy

Weight gain without realizing it can be an early symptom of pregnancy. Believe it or not, a woman who is pregnant may suddenly like food that she didn't like before. The increase in pregnant hormones also causes appetite to increase, so pregnant women may eat more to meet the needs of the fetus in the womb.

In addition, the weight of the fetus in the uterus which increases day by day, along with the development of the placenta and amniotic sac plus its fluids, also contributes to the weight gain of pregnant women.

2. Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes, especially when entering menopause can lead to weight gain. This is related to the hormone estrogen. At menopause, estrogen levels drop lower than before. This decrease in estrogen levels triggers weight gain around the stomach and hips.

3. PMS

Increased appetite is one of the classic PMS symptoms of welcoming monthly visitors. During menstruation, body weight can continue to increase, due to hormones in the body that cause flatulence and swollen breasts. However, the body weight will return to normal when this menstrual period is over.

4. Drug side effects

Gaining weight even though you don't eat much, may be due to the drugs you are currently taking. One of the common drugs that cause this side effect is corticosteroids. Used long-term, this medication can increase appetite. The higher the dose, the drug can trigger higher hunger because the part of the brain that controls hunger and satiety responses is disrupted. Corticosteroids are commonly found in medications for asthma and joint pain (arthritis).

In addition, antidepressant drugs can also cause weight gain. Reporting from the Prevention page, the risk of antidepressants causes an increase in body weight of around 2-6.8 kg, according to Dr. Hedaya, owner of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry.

5. Thyroid gland disorders

Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland that causes the body to not produce enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone plays a role in regulating the body's metabolism. When the body's metabolism slows down, the effect can lead to weight gain.

6. Aging

As we get older, metabolism slows down naturally. In addition, the body will also lose the number of muscles due to less physical activity.

Muscle is an efficient tissue that helps burn fat. Thus, losing the amount of muscle, makes people burn less calories in the body.

7. Water retention

Water retention (edema) is a condition where fluid builds up under the skin. The bigger the buildup, the more weight it increases. This fluid can build up in the ankles, hands, face, or stomach.

This water retention condition can occur due to various health problems. For example, people who have heart failure, kidney disease, or who are taking certain medications.

8. Stress or depression

Severe stress or even depression can be a factor in causing you to gain weight without realizing it. Everyone has a different stress response, but in general food is the most common emotional outlet.