Medical Reasons That Causes Sudden Weight Gain

If you have really tried to lose weight, have followed a good weight loss program religiously and stuck at it for a good length of time and yet the weight still has not shifted, then perhaps it’s medical reasons that causes sudden weight gain.  However, generally, even medical reasons don’t, in fact, cause rapid weight gain.

Healthy Eating is imperative. For most of us the common reason for gaining weight is the food we eat and the exercise (or lack of) we do. All this can be simply fixed by a good weight loss program and adjustments to our life-style. However, there are some conditions that contribute to weight gain that are uncommon, and most of us cannot lay blame at their door.

However, if you really do have trouble losing weight then maybe you should consider the following. Of course consulting with your medical practitioner is vital if you do feel that one of these may be the culprit.

There are five main medical ways that you can gain extra weight:

1. Underactive Thyroid:

An underactive thyroid or Hypothroidism can affect up to 10% of women. The most common form is Hashimoto. This is where the immune system is attacked by the thyroid resulting in a gradual decrease of thyroxine production, which in turn slows down the rate of metabolism.

The symptoms are gradual. One is gaining weight. Others are feeling the cold, dry skin and constipation as well as feeling down. Once diagnosed the underactive thyroid can be treated with replacement thyroxine, however, the weight gained will have to be managed with a weight loss program and exercise – no magic pill.

2. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:

PCOS is when cysts develop on the ovaries and disrupt ovulation. It is a common cause of infertility and one that has vague symptoms like irregular periods. It also can produce weight gain around the waist giving more of an “apple” appearance rather than a “pear”.

There is no “quick fix” to this even though medication can help to improve the condition. However, in most cases if women take charge they can lose weight. Also exercise is very important as it helps to achieve a normal menstrual cycle and reduce the risk of diabetes.

3. Metabolic Syndrome/Syndrome X

This is something that is becoming more and more common. The symptoms include:

• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• High cholesterol
• Fat around the middle

Fat on the hips and thighs are not medically something to worry too much about, however, fat around the waist and organs can mean trouble with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. For women the waist measurement should be less that 88cm in circumference.

Once again, exercise will improve the insulin levels as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

4. Menopause:

Due to a decline in estrogen it becomes harder to keep the weight off. Weight tends to build around the waist and organs much the same way as men.

It is not inevitable that menopause and weight gain go together.