Unintentional Reasons For Gaining Weight (Meaning and Causes)

7 minute read

Obesity is a big problem. It can have a physical and emotional impact on people with impairments. Weight gain can lead to a variety of health problems, ranging from joint pain to high blood pressure and heart disease. Medical equipment can be used in some cases, but not always, and the item or piece of equipment may cost more than the user has available to pay. Individually, there are no viable methods for weight loss. Individually, you should start moving more, eating healthier, and following a diet that will allow you to lose weight permanently.

Pregnancy weight gain is a typical issue for pregnant women. Fortunately, most mothers lose a large amount of weight after giving birth. Weight loss during pregnancy is well recognized to shorten labor and make childbirth easier.

Some Surprising Causes of Weight Gain

Stress

When we are stressed, our bodies produce more cortisol, the so-called "stress hormone." In turn, this hormone boosts our hunger. Add to that the proclivity to go for comfort foods in times of stress, and you have a recipe for weight gain.

Drugs That May Cause Weight Gain

Other prescription medications you are taking may also cause weight gain. Antipsychotic medications used to treat diseases such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are examples, as are drugs used to manage seizures, migraines, diabetes, and hypertension. You can consult with your doctor about drug options with fewer side effects.

Not Enough Sleep

If you're not sleeping, you have more chances to indulge in late-night snacking. This is obvious. However, there's another reason lack of sleep might be adding on the pounds: biochemical changes in your body resulting from sleep deprivation can make you hungrier and leave you feeling less full after eating.

5 Reasons You May Be Gaining Weight Unintentionally

Weight gain can be extremely frustrating, especially when you don’t know what’s causing it.

While diet typically plays the largest role in weight gain, other factors — such as stress and lack of sleep — may contribute as well.

1. You eat too much sugar

Sugary meals and beverages, such as candy, cakes, soda, sports drinks, ice cream, iced tea, and sweetened coffee drinks, can quickly add inches to your waistline.

Numerous studies have linked sugar consumption not only to weight gain but also to an increased risk of chronic health disorders such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Learn How to Control Your Sugar Level

In particular, sugary beverages are the largest source of added sugar in the United States and strongly associated with weight gain.

For instance, a review of 30 studies in 242,352 children and adults tied sweetened beverage intake to weight gain and obesity.

One study in 11,218 women revealed that drinking 1 sugary soda per day led to 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of weight gain over 2 years — meaning that cutting out sweets might have the opposite effect.

You can try gradually reducing your sugar intake to ease the process.

2. You engage in yo-yo dieting

Yo-yo dieting is defined as periods of deliberate weight loss followed by inadvertent weight gain.

Notably, this trend is associated with a higher risk of weight gain over time.

In a study of 2,785 participants, those who had recently dieted had higher body weights and waist circumferences than non-dieters.

Other studies have found that restrictive eating and dieting might lead to future weight gain due to your body's physiological responses, such as changes in appetite and fullness hormones.

Plus, most people who lose weight through restrictive dieting gain back most or all of it within 5 years.

To keep weight off long term, you should focus on sustainable lifestyle changes. These include exercise, cutting out processed and sugary foods, and eating nutrient-dense, whole foods rich in fiber and protein.

3. You’re stressed out

Chronic stress is a prevalent issue that might have an impact on your weight.

High cortisol levels have been shown to boost appetite and your desire for highly delicious, calorie-dense foods, which can lead to weight gain.

Furthermore, research show that those with obesity have higher cortisol levels than those who do not have the illness.

Surprisingly, stress management may aid with weight loss.

In an 8-week study in 45 adults with obesity, those who engaged in relaxation techniques like deep breathing lost significantly more weight than those who only received standard dietary advice.

To reduce stress, try incorporating evidence-based relaxation practices into your routine. These include yoga, spending time in nature, and meditation.

4. You don’t get enough sleep

Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. Insufficient sleep may trigger weight gain, among other negative effects.

A study in 92 women demonstrated that those who slept fewer than 6 hours daily had the highest body mass index (BMI) and the highest levels of a protein secreted by fat cells), compared with women who slept 6 hours or more per day.

In a 2-week study in 10 adults with excess weight following a low-calorie diet, those who slept 5.5 hours per night lost 55% less body fat and 60% more muscle mass than those who slept 8.5 hours per night.

As such, increasing your sleep time may aid weight loss.

Some evidence associates 7 or more hours of sleep per night with a 33% greater likelihood of weight loss, compared with sleeping fewer than 7 hours.

If you have poor sleep quality, you can try limiting screen time before bed, reducing your caffeine intake, and going to sleep at a consistent time.

5. You eat too many highly processed foods

Many healthy foods, such as oats, frozen fruit, and yogurt, are minimally processed.

However, highly processed foods, including sugary cereals, fast food, and microwave dinners, pack a slew of harmful ingredients, as well as added sugars, preservatives, and unhealthy fats.

What’s more, numerous studies link highly processed food to weight gain, in addition to rising obesity rates in the United States and around the world .

For example, a 2019 study in 19,363 Canadian adults found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods were 32% more likely to be obese than those who ate the least .

What Happens When you Start to loss weight?

Better Sleep

Losing excess weight may allow you to sleep better at night. Many overweight people have difficulty sleeping. This is frequently due to sleep apnea, a difficulty breathing while sleeping that is more common in overweight persons. Losing weight can help with your respiratory problems. You may discover that you are more inclined to sleep through the night. Throughout the day, you may feel more alert and rested.

Your Sex Life Improves

Being overweight reduces testosterone levels. The enzyme found in body fat signals the body to generate less testosterone over time. As a result, you feel sluggish, angry, and exhausted. Low testosterone can also cause you to crave sex less frequently, straining your connection with your partner.

The Benefits of Sex for Both Men and Women

Obesity and low testosterone levels can also cause erectile dysfunction, which can leave men feeling unhappy and unable to satisfy their spouses.

However, decreasing weight can help. When you lose weight, your testosterone levels return to normal, and your symptoms of exhaustion and irritation begin to fade. Your libido is also likely to enhance, which will please your lover. I've dealt with erectile dysfunction patients who have recovered completely after losing weight, and the vast majority of them believe that the battle was well worth it.

Food with a Unique Flavor

Excess weight might impair your sense of taste. One cause for this could be that you've lost your taste buds. According to research, people who lose a lot of weight, particularly after weight reduction surgery, do not taste things the same way afterward. Sweet and greasy meals may not appeal to you. As a result, you'll naturally begin to eat healthier foods and consume fewer calories.

You might spend less money on drugs.

Carrying abdominal fat is hazardous to your health. It predisposes you to metabolic syndrome, a horrible condition characterized by symptoms such as excessive blood sugars, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and others. Metabolic syndrome, if left untreated, can lead to major health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

If any of these diseases emerge, your doctor will most likely prescribe medicine to treat them. Depending on your insurance, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars per month on prescriptions that you may not need if you lose weight.

Other Benefits of Weight loss includes: