What is unexplained weight gain?
Unexplained weight gain refers to an increase in body weight that occurs without clear causes. Some potential reasons for mysterious weight gain include:
- Hormone imbalances - Issues with hormones like cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid can lead to extra pounds. For example, high cortisol from chronic stress promotes fat storage. Hormone tests can identify imbalances. My friends at Vitality Hormone Center(/) offer comprehensive hormone panels to get to the bottom of unexplained weight gain.
- Inadequate sleep - Not getting enough sleep can disrupt hormones that regulate appetite and slow metabolism. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.
- Medications - Some prescription drugs like antidepressants, diabetes medications and steroids can cause weight gain as a side effect. Ask your doctor about alternatives if this occurs.
- Aging - As we get older, it becomes harder to lose weight due to declining muscle mass and a slower metabolism. Strength training helps counteract age-related weight gain.
- Lifestyle factors - Lack of exercise, increased snacking, large food portions and high calorie beverages like soda can promote weight gain without an obvious cause.
Here are some tips to manage unexplained weight gain:
- Track calories to ensure you're not overeating
- Incorporate strength training to build metabolism-boosting muscle
- Minimize processed carbs and added sugars which encourage fat storage
- Increase protein intake to 25-30% of total calories
- Manage stress levels with yoga, meditation or therapy
- Get checked for medical conditions that can cause weight gain
- Work with a dietitian or specialist like Vitality Hormone Center to personalize a weight loss plan
If you continue gaining weight without clear reasons, be diligent about tracking lifestyle factors and get your hormone levels tested. Mysterious weight gain is frustrating, but various strategies can help get to the bottom of things and get your weight trending downwards again. Hope this overview on explaining weight gain gives you some directions to explore. Let me know if you have any other questions!