Everyone aspires to remain fit and healthy. The biggest challenge remains to balance weight and control obesity. Certain medical conditions cause unintentional weight gain, and one should be aware of them.
If you are working hard on burning those extra calories and still face the dilemma of weight gain, it’s time to delve deeper. Recent research has identified multiple factors associated with the modern lifestyle and underlying medical conditions that promotes weight gain and obesity. Maintaining sedentary lifestyles and the overconsumption of calorie-dense refined foods are the primary problems (1) Sometimes, the stubborn weight that won’t go away even with efforts is the result of underlying medical conditions that affect various systems throughout the body. We should be aware of medical conditions that cause rapid weight gain and can trigger other diseases.
Healthcare providers calculate BMI (Body Mass Index) as a screening tool to evaluate weight. BMI (Range 30-30.9 obese category) and other tools like waistline circumference are used to assess someone’s health status and risks. As BMI increases, so do blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and inflammation. These changes translate into increased risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and even death.
Medical Conditions that can cause weight gain
- Hypothyroidism
The butterfly-shaped gland present in the neck region is responsible for releasing thyroid hormones that control metabolism. If your thyroid slows down, then everything else slows down — including your metabolism. It can be very difficult for people with hypothyroidism to lose weight. They may also experience fatigue, sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, depression, and muscle pain. Weight loss can also be achieved by reducing water retention which is common with hypothyroidism. Diet and exercise should be included.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal imbalance caused by the ovaries (the organ that produces and releases eggs) creating excess male hormones (2) Young women are prone to this condition, resulting in an irregular menstrual cycle, acne, bloating, insulin resistance, and weight gain. An excessive amount of oestrogen promotes fat deposition which causes difficulty in weight loss and infertility issues. Managing weight is one of the best things PCOs-affected women can do. Eating well is a big part of that. Exercise, the kind that gets your heart pumping, as well as lifting weights to keep muscles strong, will help control weight, stress, and mood swings.
- Cushing Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism) happens when there’s extra cortisol, the ‘stress hormone,’ which is vital to regulating your blood sugar and turning food into energy. It can be fatal if left untreated (3). In men, there may be reduced fertility and libido. In women, there may be abnormal hair growth on the face, neck, and chest and irregular periods alongside thinning scalp hair and acne.
As people with Cushing’s have high levels of cortisol running through the body, they face a hard time losing weight. Eating nutritious food with proteins and vitamins (especially Vit D) helps along with regular exercise.
- Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels in men and women (4) Lifestyle changes go a long way. Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, protein, and whole grains along with limiting saturated fat and salt in your diet is recommended.
Dr. Hari Gupta, MD, IDCCM, EDIC, Director Critical Care Unit, VIMS Nagpur discussed with the author, “Hormones play a very important role in maintaining holistic health and weight balance, especially in women. These hormones play a crucial role in appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution. If hormones are not working as they should, metabolism won’t either. In obese individuals, insulin signals are lost and there is a rise in blood glucose levels which can lead to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome has increased in women with PCOs history, increased abdominal fat, and insulin resistance and can have weight issues.”
- Medications
Antidepressants, steroids, diabetic medications, antihypertensive drugs, contraceptives, and anti-inflammatory drugs can increase weight.
Stress can be a big roadblock for people trying to lose weight. There are two issues associated with sleep and weight gain. First, if you’re up late, the odds are greater that you’re doing some late-night snacking, which means more calories. The other reason involves what’s going on in your body when you’re sleep-deprived.
Dr. Manish Jain, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Max BLK Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi told the writer, “The nature of the relationship between weight gain, obesity, and mental health differs from person to person. Depression and weight gain can co-exist. It’s possible that depression-related hormonal shifts trigger weight gain. For some people, eating may be a way of coping with stress that can lead to weight gain. We examine some of the key underlying issues surrounding weight gain in individuals suffering from mental disorders. Sometimes the reverse may also happen and there can be weight loss. When treated over a short period of time, weight gain may be minimal and reversible once a drug is discontinued. Eating a healthy diet consisting of fruits, proteins, and low fat can have a positive effect on your mental health. Regular exercises along with yoga and meditation go a long way. Good night’s sleep adds to the benefit and helps balance weight.” (https://drmadhumitamandal.com/why-everyday-exercise-is-fun/)
- Menopause
At menopause, many women experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. Contributors to weight gain at menopause include declining estrogen levels, age-related loss of muscle tissue, and lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of exercise. It is recommended to build and maintain muscle mass with strength training such as weight training or weight-bearing exercise such as walking. A nutritious diet and low fat in food help.
Nutritionist Seema Singh, Founder Director at Seema Singh’s Nutrition Clinic, Clinic Nutrition & lifestyle management emphasized further, “Weight loss requires changes such as physical activity, healthy eating, and behavior modification that are ultimately necessary to prevent development or management of cardiovascular disease, PCOD, diabetes, fatty liver, and hypothyroidism. Eating excess processed, sugary or fatty foods are just some of the habits that may increase your risk of weight gain during medical conditions. A couple of hours of sleep is also essential for overall health and well-being. Insufficient sleep may trigger weight gain.”
Diet control and exercise are the tools of weight management. Stick to it!
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4111078/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8316-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5497-cushings-syndrome
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428566/
- Sarafidis PA, Nilsson PM. The metabolic syndrome: a glance at its history. J Hypertens. 2006;24:621–626. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grundy SM, et al. Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome: An American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement. 2005;112:2735–2752. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Alberti KG, Zimmet PZ. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1: Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus provisional report of a WHO consultation. Diabet Med. 1998;15:539–553. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- https://www.medicinenet.com/which_medications_cause_the_most_weight_gain/article.htm
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-weight-gain-shockers
- https://www.oatext.com/A-case-study-Obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome-A-three-pronged-program-targeting-education-close-follow-up-and-a-dietary-supplement-significantly-decrease-body-weight-and-body-fat.php
A little dose of daily exercise is always better! Stick to it.