Causes Of Rapid Weight Gain

One of the foremost reasons of being overweight is overeating and less exercising. In another words, people gain weight when they eat more than they can burn off. However this conventional diet knowledge is not always true; there could be several other causes of rapid weight gain. Sometimes people do a lot of diet as well as exercise still they don't find the weighing scale's needle going down; this is probably a call to check out the reasons of sudden weight gain. No need to dishearten yourself as everything has a solution, but before that, find the reason of your weight gain.

Hypothyroidism - Probably this is the most common factor found in people who are overweight. Actually deficiency of thyroid hormone can reduce metabolism of food, resulting in loss of appetite and modest weight gain. Weight gain occurs owing to fat accumulation and fluid retention caused by protein deposits in the body. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, lethargy, swelling of the face, puffy eyes, dry skin, decreased sweating, poor memory, slow speech and husky voice, weakness, intolerance to cold and headache.

Deficiency of Essential Fatty Acid - Essential fatty acids are good fats that are required by the body to produce hormones and maintain the body's metabolic rate. Its deficiency may result in cravings, mainly for fatty foods. Some initial signs of deficiency are often dandruff, dry hair and dry, scaly skin. Such deficiency is also associated with problems like arthritis, eczema, heart disease, diabetes and premenstrual syndrome.

Food Sensitivity - After eating a particular food, it is possible that reactions to foods are not immediate. After hours later, symptoms like bloating and swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, abdomen, chin and around the eyes, can appear. Much of the weight gained is fluid retention, which occurs due to inflammation and the release of certain hormones. Besides, fermentation of foods, especially carbohydrates, in the intestines can result in a swollen belly and gas production.

Cushing's Syndrome - It is a disorder caused due to excess of the hormone cortisol. In this problem, fat accumulates in the face, abdomen and upper back; while the arms and legs usually remain slender. Some of its other symptoms are muscle wasting and weakness, thin skin, poor wound healing, easy bruising, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance, purple "stretch marks" on the abdomen, menstrual irregularities, and hair loss in women.

Prescription Drugs - Any hormone replacement therapy and intake of oral contraceptives containing estrogen can result in fluid retention and increased appetite. Steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants and diabetic medications are some other drugs that can cause weight gain.

Kidney, Heart or Liver Disease - Any disease in these organs causes fluid retention, which results in general puffiness all over the body, particularly the eyes and ankles.

Emotional Eating - Some people retort stress or depression by eating excessively. Sources of stress may not be always evident, but may still influence eating habits and cause weight gain.

Blood Sugar Imbalance - Intake of simple, refined carbohydrates can bring about quick variations in blood sugar levels. For instance, eating chocolate increases the amount of sugar present in the blood. The hormone insulin is released, causing sugar to be stored away and blood sugar levels to be lowered; it triggers cravings for more sweets so as to stabilize blood sugar balance.

Note: Organ enlargement, like an ovarian cyst, and obstruction of lymph fluid, can also lead to weight gain. The above mentioned conditions should be properly diagnosed by an experienced doctor because disease may not always be accompanied by evident symptoms.