Women are conscious of their weight and will go the extra mile to maintain or cut off a few extra pounds. However, some women lose hope as they still gain weight even after several weight loss efforts. This happened because most women do not understand why they are gaining weight regardless of their efforts.
Before choosing a weight loss plan for yourself, it is important to know what causes it to know if the specific approach will work for you. To help you out, here are common reasons for a woman’s weight gain.
PCOS
PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder that is very common in women which is also a cause of weight gain. Women with PCOS will notice a weight gain around their waist. Symptoms for PCOS are irregular periods, trouble in conceiving, abnormal hair growth, and weight gain.
If you have these symptoms, it is best to schedule an appointment with your physician. Your doctor may prescribe you birth control pills to manage your PCOS, and if treated properly, it can disappear.
Thyroid Problems
An underactive thyroid does not produce adequate thyroid hormones, which slows body metabolism and causes weight gain. Although underactive thyroid can also happen to men, it is most common in women at any age.
This can be corrected by taking hormone replacement daily. Talk to your physician if you have existing or suspected to have thyroid problems so that they can give you proper treatment. Do not self-diagnose as it can cause a more serious problem.
Medications
Certain medications can cause weight gain not only to women. Some medications that contribute to weight gain are antidepressants, corticosteroids, and antipsychotic medications. Although birth control pills sometimes cause weight gain amongst women, it can only occur to some women.
Birth control pills have different effects on every woman. It may cause temporary weight gain to some yet causes weight loss to others. If you think your birth control pills are the culprit of your weight gain, it is better to talk to your doctor.
Insulin Retention
Insulin resistance will make your body produce more insulin that will make you feel more hungry and result in higher blood pressure. When your body releases more insulin, you will experience unexpected weight gain, which is also hard to get rid of.
A study has suggested that high insulin level has a huge role in obesity. Medications are proven to help reduce insulin levels in the body. It is also reported to occasionally cause weight loss. After the physician’s discussion, you may easily get the prescribed medications from online websites, such as BuzzRX, to save time and money.
Menopause
Hormonal changes in women are the leading cause of weight gain. There are so many factors that affect hormones in your body. We already talked about PCOS, thyroid problems, and insulin retention. However, there are still more factors that can cause your hormones to change. One of these is menopause.
Menopausal is a natural occurrence in your reproductive system, which marks the end of your menstruation. This usually happens to women ages between 40 to 50 and diagnosed after 12 months of no period.
During this stage, the hormonal shift will cause an increased appetite, which will cause weight gain if not controlled. The changes in your body composition will also be caused by difficulty in losing any excess fats.
Stress
Stress can be another cause of weight gain. Each individual has different responses to stress. They will either gain or lose weight depending on how they cope up with their mood. Have you heard of stress eating? This is one way some people cope with the rising stress levels that will cause them weight gain.
If you are a stress eater, there are things you can do to distract yourself. The first is to exercise, as it is known to reduce stress. However, stress itself can stop you from doing exercise. If you are having difficulty hitting the gym or even carrying out an exercise at home, you can opt to do your hobby or walk instead.
Hanging out with friends can also be a very helpful thing when trying to manage your stress. If you do not want to be alone, you can treat yourself to a soothing bath while listening to your favorite calming music.
Fluid Retention
Fluid retention or edema can make some part of your body swollen. It can happen when excess fluid builds up in some parts of your body. Edema can usually occur in your hands, feet, ankles, and legs.
The common causes of fluid retention are hormonal changes, plane flights, or consuming too much salt. You can experience fluid retention if you are constantly standing over an extended period and as a pre-menstrual symptom.
Takeaway
Weight gain is not limited to calorie consumption. Just like the mentioned medical conditions, there are multiple factors affecting it. This means, women who suffer from obesity and are overweight should not lose hope if they don’t see unwanted weight loss results. Instead, they should look deeper and listen to their body. Everything is achievable as long as you have the will and the right help from the professionals.
