Why we are gaining weight: reasons for weight gain not related to nutrition and their signs

Sometimes, without any explanation, weight increases. If the number of calories consumed has increased and there is no physical activity, then it is not surprising that you have gained a few kilograms.

But there are other reasons for sudden weight gain. If you know them, you can maintain your figure and the fat layer will not increase.

It is important to understand that each person’s body is individual, therefore there may be several reasons for weight gain. Therefore, carefully review all possible options.

Reasons for sudden weight gain at different ages

Sharp weight gain in women (the reasons do not always lie in the presence of progressive diseases) can occur due to age-related physiological changes in the body.

For example, doctors usually associate a rapid increase in the amount of body fat in girls 20-30 years old with:

• hormonal imbalances;
• unhealthy lifestyle (excessive drinking, smoking);
• incorrectly organized eating habits (due to frequent spending time at parties, young girls at this age almost always eat high-calorie junk food in the evening);
• emotional state (falling in love, breaking up, unconsciously adopting your boyfriend’s lifestyle).

At an older age, after 30 years, sudden weight gain can occur due to:

• hormonal changes in the body (for example, after the birth of a child);
• unstable psychological state (at this age stage, women become more emotional, succumb to negative thoughts, apathy, and depression).

When a woman reaches 40-50 years of age, when determining the reasons for the increase in the amount of subcutaneous fat, it is necessary, first of all, to exclude:

• progressive diseases that worsen with age (for example, diabetes mellitus or pathologies of the cardiovascular system);
• the body’s reaction to a woman’s use of a number of medications;
• pathological slowdown of metabolic processes;
• mental disorders.

What does the distribution of body fat indicate?

Psychologists believe that emotional problems can be judged by the distribution of fat in a woman’s body. A double chin appears due to understatement, fear of expressing one’s thoughts out loud. Fat deposits in the shoulder and back area are associated with the burden of the past, which a woman continues to carry, or with a deep sense of guilt. Fat folds on the back in the lumbar region are an indicator of feelings of guilt and shame for one’s misdeeds or mistakes. In general, the distribution of fat in the upper body is a reflection of increased responsibility for others, the desire to help everyone, often to the detriment of one’s own interests.

Psychosomatics explains the distribution of fat deposits in the lower body as follows:

• buttocks – lack of fulfillment in sexual life, excessive stubbornness, egocentrism;
• belly - excessive concern, a large number of unrealized ideas that a woman carries within herself, some psychologists associate it with problems between mother and child;
• hips - childhood fears and grievances, infantilism or a sense of shame;
• riding breeches are an area of ​​meaningless accumulation, when a woman maintains unnecessary relationships, goes to a job she doesn’t like, and saves unpleasant emotions.

Losing weight in women with psychological causes of obesity is possible only after careful work with a psychologist and psychotherapist, who will help find the root of the problems and understand themselves.

When and which doctor should you contact?

In case of sudden weight gain, a woman is recommended to take several simple measures to normalize her condition, related to the correct reorganization of her current lifestyle.

These include:

• Refusal of flour, salty, fried, spicy and sweet foods. Or reducing the consumption of such products to a minimum.
• Consultation with the doctor who prescribed the medication (if this is the reason for weight gain), in order to replace the drug with an analogue of a similar effect.
• Compliance with drinking regime. Provided that fluid retention is the cause of a woman’s weight gain, when the drinking regime is normalized, its excess will be removed from the body by the urinary system. If the situation repeats, it is recommended to check the kidneys and bladder condition.
• Incorporating physical activity into a woman’s lifestyle.
• Consultation with a psychologist (to solve problems with your internal state).
• Take a contrast shower daily.
• Self-massage of problem areas of the body.

If the above methods do not bring a positive result, a plump woman should consult a therapist for additional examination. Taking into account the results obtained, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist who can eliminate the cause of the sudden weight gain.

How to solve the psychological problem of excess weight

It is necessary to treat obesity, which is psychosomatic, together with a psychologist. But first you need to make sure that the problem has a psychological cause and is not associated with endocrine disorders or other diseases. To do this, an examination is carried out by a therapist and an endocrinologist.

Sometimes the impetus for successful weight loss is the conclusion of a diagnostician, which indicates serious wear and tear on internal organs. Often, grade 2-3 obesity is accompanied by fatty hepatosis (obesity and impaired liver function), an increased risk of atherosclerosis, impaired glucose tolerance and a tendency to surges in blood pressure at a young age.

To treat psychosomatics, it is important to find an experienced psychologist who will help you find the causes of overeating and teach you how to control your desires. This process takes a lot of time and consists of several stages, during which the psychologist will suggest performing certain exercises:

The identification of subpersonalities, one of which seeks to overeat, and the second – to control. Psychology usually recommends giving them names and setting up a dialogue, during which you can determine the reasons why a woman overeats, how one side controls this process, and the other interferes.

Search for motivation, or the benefits of excess weight. A woman may blame obesity for the misfortunes that happen to her. But subconsciously she often justifies herself, looking for benefits in this situation. Thanks to this exercise, she can identify her needs, which are satisfied with the help of excess weight, and find another way to satisfy them.

At the third stage, the psychologist suggests answering questions about excess weight, dividing the answers into columns with pros and cons. Once she is convinced that the disadvantages of obesity are greater, a woman can set herself up for drastic weight loss.

Sometimes emotional problems or experiences are so significant that they require medication correction. The doctor may prescribe herbal sedatives that will not cause harm and will help maintain mental balance. These can be valerian tablets, motherwort tincture, Novopassit or Persen. These medications do not disrupt carbohydrate metabolism, unlike antidepressants.

In addition to finding the reason for eating high-calorie foods, with the help of psychology you can try to give it up if you build the right motivation. Psychological techniques work well when the same portion of food is crushed into small pieces. They visually look more voluminous than one large piece of meat or other dish. It helps to replace standard plates for meals with small ones that visually increase the amount of food.

For psychosomatic causes of excess weight, positive emotions are needed that will displace unpleasant experiences and help overcome stress. For reinforcement you can use:

• creativity - drawing, singing, playing musical instruments, dancing - any areas that will help get rid of negativity or switch to good emotions;
• sports – if obesity has not reached a severe stage, when physical activity worsens your well-being, you can remember your previous hobbies or find new ones. These can be team sports, martial arts or any other types of activity;
• hobby - helps you not to eat high-calorie foods, but to take your mind off troubles and switch your attention to activities that bring pleasure.

The results of losing weight for psychosomatic reasons need to be recorded so that the woman sees changes for the better. But weighing should not be daily, because... body weight may fluctuate. It’s better to step on the scale once a week to confirm positive changes.

Medical reasons for weight gain

Sharp weight gain in women (the reasons can be identified by a doctor if complete data is available not only about the person’s lifestyle, but also about the state of his health) in some cases is provoked by medical circumstances.

Among them:

Why am I gaining weight very quickly? Why does weight gain so quickly

Watching your weight and leading a healthy lifestyle is a fashionable trend today. Experts say that fluctuations in the scales within 2-3 kg in the morning and evening can be considered normal. But it happens that body weight begins to grow rapidly. If you have the thought “I’m gaining weight too quickly,” there could be a variety of reasons:

They found that subjects overestimated their caloric burn by 300 to 400 percent, and believed they needed two to three times the appropriate amount of food to recover from exercise. Don't rely on the calorie burn indicated on your machine—it may not be accurate for you—and instead invest in a heart rate monitor to get a more personalized view of your calorie burn. And avoid guessing how much food you'll need with your post-workout snack—try a small, high-carb snack like a glass of chocolate milk or chocolate soy milk, and count those calories as part of your daily intake.

• Quite often, women and men aged 40 years or more face this problem. At this stage of life, metabolism slows down sharply, so the amount of fat deposits increases.
• The same applies to women who have started menopause. Their overall metabolism decreases due to changes in hormonal levels. This causes the rapid accumulation of fat deposits.
• Sometimes rapid weight gain is associated with disruption of the endocrine glands - the thyroid and adrenal glands, the pancreas.
• Severe stress and lack of sleep undermine normal metabolism - this is why a person quickly gains weight.
• The reason for the rapid gain of kilograms can be the medications used.
• If your body weight increases in a matter of hours and days, it is worth considering that the cause is the accumulation of fluid in the body, and the extra pounds are nothing more than edema.

The consequences of these disorders in the form of excess fat deposits can be eliminated by proper nutrition and moderate exercise.

You gain weight from a slow metabolism

If you've used an online calculator to estimate how many calories you need but you're still gaining weight, you may simply be metabolizing slower than average. If you're gaining weight even when you're sure you're eating the right amount of calories and getting the right calorie burn, try reducing your calorie intake by 5 to 10 percent until your weight starts to level off.

Consider consulting a professional

If you've tried everything and you're still gaining weight, see your doctor. Certain hormonal conditions, such as hypothyroidism, can affect your metabolism and cause you to gain weight, seemingly for no reason. Some medications may also affect your metabolism, appetite, or both, increasing your risk of weight gain. Your doctor can diagnose any underlying problems and also refer you to a nutritionist to help manage your weight.

This is especially true for people whose metabolism slows down with age. They need to reduce their daily calorie intake.

In many cases, psychological help is required to correct eating behavior. In addition, a number of diseases of the endocrine system require consultation with relevant specialists.

One of the largest healthy living things, like when you realize you've put on extra weight and don't understand why. If your skinny jeans only fit a couple of months ago and you haven't done anything differently, what gives? You eat healthy, stay loyal to your boot camp class and drink plenty of water, but the pounds have crept up on your frame.

While your exercise and nutrition efforts are still very important to achieving a flat stomach, there are a number of things that can cause your waistline to expand, many of which are directly hidden or out of your control. But don't panic! And after you see how easy the path to your ideal weight can be, be sure to check them out!

When asking the question “I’m gaining weight quickly,” not in all cases a person can determine the reasons for this on his own and begin to take action.

We know why a person gains weight quickly

This is clarified through a conversation with the patient, based on the results of a blood test, enzyme immunoassay and other studies that give an idea of ​​the level of basal metabolism, tolerance of various foods, and the percentage of adipose tissue in the body. Knowing the real reason for the accumulation of excess weight, experts are developing the most effective method for eliminating it and combating fat deposits.

The thyroid gland, a gland in the neck that sits above Adam's apple, regulates a wide range of body functions, including. But sometimes, for various reasons, your thyroid gland can become underactive and lead to a condition called hypothyroidism. One of the many symptoms of the disease? What's worse is that the condition often develops slowly, so many people don't notice symptoms until they're completely bloated, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Gets Worse: If a thyroid problem is to blame for your weight gain, it doesn't matter how diligent your diet and exercise routine is; it will be almost impossible to shed pounds. Get the most out of your tea with the 7-Day Tea Cleanser! Test experts lost up to 10 pounds in one week. The drugs can also negatively affect metabolism. And since depression is often accompanied by a disinterest in food, another thought pool is that when antidepressants become effective, people regain their appetites and overeat.

You don’t have to think about the question “I’m gaining weight quickly - what should I do?”, because nutritionists provide highly qualified assistance to each patient on an individual basis, developing a nutrition plan depending on the needs of the body. Based on this, a consultation with a nutritionist at the Slimclinic center can be considered the key to a successful fight against rapid weight gain.

Do it!: Switching medications often helps since some types are more prone to weight gain than others. However, if you change medications, it may not help your depression as effectively. It can be a lot of trial and error,” Rumsey adds.

Of all the little white lies, "what you don't know can't hurt you" is one of the worst when it comes to weight loss. However, when we talk about weight gain, ignorance may be the very reason you are always tightening your belt. When you avoid scale because you don't want to know the number, that's when you get into trouble.

My name is Sapphira. I have this problem... I'm gaining weight very quickly. I started to get better, it’s already very noticeable. I hadn't noticed this before. What happened, what the reason was, I don’t understand. What should I do?

Maybe I can get an answer from you if I tell you something about myself? I am twenty five years old. I definitely don’t have diabetes, I don’t overeat, and I’m not very nervous. Tell me medications, ways, reasons, and methods. I will be glad to hear anything and all comments and statements. What to do if you gain weight at such a fast rate?

Do it!: If you want to get rid of excess damage, you need to take away the fun, increase activity during the day and jump on the scale at least once a week, if not two or three, to monitor your progress, "I recommend weighing in on Monday , Wednesday and Friday,” Palumbo says. If Monday is a little higher than usual, so much the better for returning next week. And Friday is good because if you're a little on the high side, it's still all the more incentive to stay on course over the weekend and not get too crazy.

Comments and advice:

Irina:

Maybe you use hormonal ointments? You didn’t write what you were sick with or were sick with. Without knowing this information, it is very difficult to judge anything.

Veronica:

What about birth control? The overdose may have started. They can make you feel very much better. Not from everyone, of course, but it’s possible.

There's no denying that working out is an important factor in weight loss, but surprisingly, thinking about your upcoming sweat sessions too often can make it difficult to lose weight. Research shows that when your favorite spin class is always on the brain, you tend to consume more calories—probably because you assume you'll just blast it during the mountain and sprint sections of your class. And unfortunately, for the average gym rat or dedicated devotee, this is unlikely to be the case.

Do it!: Set it and forget it! This way, you're not constantly thinking about your post-workout sessions; you can simply link to your calendar and go. To enhance weight loss, avoid wearing too much and choose some tailored to your physical shape. Is your obsession with Reese and Pringle derailing your efforts? Maybe if you don't use self-checkout kiosks at the grocery store. While not all impulse purchases are bad for your belly, a whopping 80 percent of candy and 61 percent of salty snacks are unplanned.

Ioannina:

You probably thought that you were not overeating. In fact, you are hiding from yourself that you don’t leave the refrigerator. I don’t want to offend you through negligence, but I’m just expressing my assumption.

Pauline:

What to do? To give up many “grocery things”, for example. At first it will be difficult to take such steps, but you can get used to it. I tested it on myself, learned it from others, and read it in many articles.

Do it!: Next time you're at the grocery store, head to the self-checkout line. Switching up your routine may be your ticket to success. The main reason? “Lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of the hormone gorelin and decreased levels of leptin, the satiety hormone,” explains Rumsey. “Research also shows that when we are sleep deprived, our brains react more strongly to junk food and are less able to practice portion control.”

You order the healthiest menu item probing

Do It!: Rumsey assures us that after a week or two of adequate sleep—which she defines as seven to eight hours a night—the wave of hunger and cravings should subside. And to increase your calorie burn before hitting the sheets, check them out. Weird but true: When you think of your food as a light choice, it can cause your brain to pump out more ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite. To keep your hunger in check, stick to restaurant meals that are surprisingly low in calories instead of obvious options like house salad and veggie soup.

Ella:

I really liked your name. It's a pity that a girl with a name like yours was so unlucky. But I'll try to help you. No medications or pills need to be taken. Just walk often. This will be the right step at the beginning of your difficult journey.

Marina:

Have you tried seeing a doctor about this? The doctor, although he is not a super-specialist, will recommend something to you. Otherwise you will just play guessing games. And what will you achieve by behavior like this?

The sandwich sounds like a more indulgent alternative, but in fact, eating it over the greens keeps 300 calories and 36 grams of fat off your plate. From building muscle to improving cardiovascular health, there are plenty of obvious reasons to hit the gym. However, exercising alone is unlikely to cancel out your ice cream, drinking and hamburger habits, Rumsey says. Additionally, the type of exercise you do can also make it difficult to keep the pounds off. "A steady-state cardio condition, such as working at a dark pace for three to four miles, can increase your appetite," warns Ramsey. "Many people who do these types of workouts end up eating more than they would have if they hadn't worked out."

Ruslana:

You suffered stress, or were in a state of depression. Such conditions also lead to “negative” forecasts. You read about it yourself. Many times, but you don’t remember. If you haven't read it, read it. You will believe information that is out there somewhere else more than me or another stranger.

Angelina:

You need to go to the doctor! And don't hesitate! You can go to a paid clinic if you don’t trust state medicine. But you need to be examined! Don't behave the way children usually behave! You're not little. I'm not hinting at age, but you indicated it yourself.

Do it!: Put away the junk and switch up your workout. A growing body of research shows that high-intensity interval exercise is best for seeing improvements in muscle mass and cardiovascular function without an associated increase in appetite, Rumsey says.

From our packaged snacks to the food we order at restaurants, the modern American diet is saltier than Amy Schumer's pillow talk—and it's making our bellies bloat! And when you retain water in your gut, it can make your pants feel snug and tip like you've gained weight overnight when it's just water weight. As Palumbo says, "Sodium-related weight gain is easy to come, easy to go."

Sofia:

And I'm getting better. I started doing fitness yesterday. It’s difficult to force myself, but it’s important for me to somehow get rid of excess weight. I don’t write about diets because I don’t eat almost anything anyway. And I will not recommend any diet food, since any diet is harmful to health.

Alesya:

And you “travel” on the Internet if you can’t come up with anything yourself. There are so many forums, websites... You'll definitely find something. Believe whichever you like the most!

Consuming enough protein is important for two reasons: Because it digests more slowly than refined carbohydrates, it fills you up and prevents you from overeating. It also helps maintain muscle mass. If you don't consume enough protein to keep your muscles and cells healthy, your body ends up breaking down muscle to access the nutrients it needs—and that causes problems. Less muscle mass means a slower metabolism, which can lead to weight gain over time, explains Rumsey.

Tatiana:

Don't chew the seeds! They are very easy to recover from. Especially when you hang out with them in front of the TV. Don’t pretend that you didn’t know this, that you haven’t heard of this. I want to protect you. I don’t mean it out of malice or sarcasm!

Vlada:

Have sex more often! You know how he helps! Better than any medicine, or any gymnastics. By the way, sex is a kind of sport. Don't think that I'm a lecher - a pervert. I say what I am one hundred percent sure of.

Do it!: To keep your metabolism strong, stock your kitchen. Do it!: One of the best ways to overcome sneaky cravings is to keep foods that you know you can't deny out of the house. Can't imagine kicking your favorite cookies out of the house forever? Separated from foods that you tend to overeat.

If every time you have a cookie craving you buy a low-fat bag, you may be making your body feel bad, sound, intuitive, we know. When food manufacturers trim fat, they often pump up their snacks filled with sugar and additives, which can leave you unsatisfied and craving more of what you want if you try to reverse recent weight gain.

Daria:

Eat buckwheat and rice. And try to forget about sweets. Eat it on holidays, and not every day, or on weekends. Well, a birthday is an exceptional case.

Maryana:

Don't sit in one place too much! And then everything will be fine with your weight. You won’t throw it off instantly, but you can definitely do it quickly! You are most likely accustomed to leading a sedentary lifestyle. This is not good, girl!

Do it!: To go back to the trimmer version, eat the real thing, but reduce your share. From beta blockers to birth control pills and everything in between, there is a long, long list of medications that can cause waist loss. Others cause fluid retention or sufficient sleepiness to reduce physical activity, which can cause weight gain. Do it!: This is important, so listen: If you suspect your drug is causing weight gain, never stop taking it.

Instead, make an appointment with your health care provider and ask if there might be an equally effective alternative that doesn't affect your weight. Everyone reacts to medications differently, so trying something else can help, Palumbo says.

Alexandra:

Aren't you married? She probably forgot or kept silent about such an event. When you cook for your wife, you try the cooking. Can you imagine how many calories you managed to “sit down”?

Irina:

If you gain weight quickly, try to lose weight quickly! I can help by writing one diet and its menu, which is intended specifically for “accelerated” weight loss. Catch it, dear, and don’t be sad!

“Fast weight loss” menu.

It helps to lose three or four kilograms in a week, but does not harm any body at all.

So…. Monday!

1. Ham (piece).
2. Grapefruit (piece).
3. Chayochek (cup).

Now - lunch:

1. Grapefruit (piece).
2. Sayochek (cup).
3. Tomato salad.

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. Chicken fillet.
2. "Green" salad.
3. Water (mug).

So…. Tuesday!

Of course, we have breakfast first:

1. Grapefruit juice (glass).
2. The omelette is hot.
3. Water (glass).

Now - lunch:

1. Grapefruit (two pieces).
2. Cheese (low-fat, of course).
3. Water (glass).

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. The fish is lean.
2. Grapefruit slice.
3. Water (glass).

So…. Wednesday!

Of course, we have breakfast first:

1. Muesli.
2. Grapefruit (piece).
3. Meat (piece).

Now - lunch:

1. Soup made from vegetables and crackers.
2. Grapefruit (several pieces).
3. Juice (glass).

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. Baked tomatoes (2).
2. Grilled chicken (two hundred grams).
3. Juice (one and a half glasses).

So…. Thursday!

Of course, we have breakfast first:

1. Grapefruit (half).
2. Tomato juice (glass).
3. Mineral water (glass).

Now - lunch:

1. Grapefruit slice.
2. Ragushka (stew) made from vegetables.
3. Black bread (one slice).

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. Chayochek (cup).
2. Grapefruit (whole).
3. Water (a couple of glasses).

So…. Friday!

Of course, we have breakfast first:

1. Grapefruit salad.
2. A glass of mineral water.
3. One tomato.

Now - lunch:

1. Two baked potatoes.
2. Cabbage salad.
3. Water (glass).

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. Veal, cooked in the oven (two hundred grams).
2. Chayochek (cup).
3. Grapefruit (whole).

Menu for Saturday and Sunday!

Of course, we have breakfast first:

1. Two grapefruit pieces.
2. Chayochek (cup).
3. Salad with grapefruit.

Now - lunch:

1. A small portion of bean soup.
2. One small grapefruit.
3. A glass of mineral water.

Let's have dinner, dear:

1. Chicken cooked in the oven.
2. One grapefruit.
3. Small portion of rice.

Let's continue. . .

Are you gaining weight suddenly? —

I'm gaining a lot of weight. What to do?

I like

Hormonal disorders

Sharp weight gain in women (the reasons directly influence the choice of treatment methods) can be caused by hormonal disorders. They can occur both due to progressive diseases and due to physiological changes occurring in the body, for example, during menopause.

Among the fair half of humanity, such disorders occur in the vast majority of cases due to malfunctions of the endocrine or reproductive systems.

When visiting a doctor, a woman will need to donate venous blood for hormonal studies based on basic indicators:

• progesterone;
• prolactin;
• cortisol;
• insulin;
• melatonin;
• testosterone;
• TSH;
• endorphin;
• HCG.

If deviations in the level of a particular hormone are detected, the woman is prescribed an additional examination, including, if necessary, ultrasound, MRI, and x-rays.

If there is complete information about the woman’s health status, the doctor prescribes drug therapy aimed at normalizing hormonal levels. After its stabilization, the weight, provided the woman follows the principles of proper nutrition, will begin to decrease on its own.

Ovarian tumor

In rare cases, a growing belly is a sign and result of an ovarian tumor and the fluid accumulation associated with this condition.

Women most often suffer from both benign and malignant ovarian tumors after menopause. However, if you experience abnormal abdominal growth and weight gain, which is also accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and pressure on the bladder, be sure to consult a doctor. Especially if there is a family history of ovarian carcinoma.

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Drugs that can lead to obesity

In some cases, obesity can be caused by taking medications prescribed by a doctor to normalize the functioning of the body's internal systems.

The pharmaceutical products most often recommended by specialists include:

• oral contraceptives (“old” generation);
• Indomethacin;
• Diclofenac;
• Ketotifen (significantly increases appetite);
• drugs that act as alpha and beta blockers;
• Cimetidine (a medicine prescribed for people with diagnosed stomach ulcers);
• Metoclopromide (antiemetic);
• Domperidone (recommended by doctors to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract).

If the body reacts to taking medications with a sharp increase in weight, the woman is advised to tell the doctor who prescribed the treatment about this. The specialist, if possible, will reduce the dosage or suggest another remedy with a similar principle of action.

If there are no positive changes even after changing the direction of treatment, it is recommended to undergo a general examination of the body to determine the presence of possible pathologies that provoke weight gain.

Birth control pills

The widespread belief that birth control pills contribute to sudden weight gain applies exclusively to “first” generation drugs.

In them, the concentration of synthetic hormones was as high as possible, to which the body responded with significant changes, for example, the occurrence of “false pregnancy” syndrome, enlarged mammary glands, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Modern gynecologists do not use such drugs in their practice.

Improved versions of birth control pills affect the female body in two “side” ways:

• can retain fluid, causing swelling;
• increase appetite.

By understanding the mechanism of how oral contraceptives work, a woman will be able to minimize the risk of weight gain by following a drinking regime and controlling the amount of food consumed. Otherwise, she will get better, regardless of the generation and the composition of the drug she takes.

Menopause

During menopause, a woman’s weight gain can occur for several reasons:

• changes in the concentration of estrogen in the blood (this provokes increased appetite);
• significant slowdown in metabolic processes;
• decreased physical activity;
• decrease in muscle mass;
• decreased speed of the gastrointestinal tract.

A woman can normalize her condition and endure hormonal changes in her body as easily as possible by following the basic recommendations of gynecologists.

They are:

• have breakfast daily;

  

• avoid eating in the evening later than 3 hours before you are supposed to go to bed;
• organize your diet so that most of your dinner consists of proteins;
• eat small portions every 4 hours, avoiding “harmful” snacks;
• focus the menu on dishes made from whole grain cereals; fruits, vegetables, protein;
• keep a food diary in which you need to note the foods you eat every day and calculate the calories consumed.

Eating salty foods

Eating salty foods provokes a disturbance in the body's water-salt metabolism.

Most often this occurs in people:

• having a tendency to develop edema or pastiness of the upper and lower extremities;
• accustomed to consuming salty foods in the evening.

Excessive amounts of salt retain water in the body, which provokes the formation of swelling of soft tissues, increased blood pressure, and the risk of heart attack or stroke. The fluid retained by the body slows down metabolic processes and prevents the timely removal of toxins from the body.

To get rid of the negative consequences of eating salty foods, which manifests itself in the form of sudden weight gain, a woman is recommended to:

• perform a set of physical exercises daily;

  

• limit salt intake to 2-3 g per day;
• practice self-massage;
• Drink enough clean water, while avoiding the consumption of juices, carbonated water, coffee and tea.

Casein sensitivity

Intolerance to casein, a milk protein, affects both young children and adult women.

This feature of the body always manifests itself in the same way:

• allergic reactions of the body, which manifest themselves after taking casein-containing products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese);
• swelling due to fluid retention.

To stabilize weight, a woman is advised to identify specific foods that cause the most severe reaction. This can be done both by a practical method (try 1 casein-containing product per day and monitor the condition of your skin and mucous membranes) and by laboratory tests (donate blood for immunoglobulin type G4.

This analysis makes it possible to diagnose food allergies even if they are in a latent form).

Once intolerant foods are identified, their consumption should be minimized or completely eliminated from the diet. After reorganizing eating habits, weight, provided there are no secondary pathologies, stabilizes on its own.

Selection of treatment and prevention

To select the correct treatment and physical activity, a number of studies are prescribed:

• A complete medical history is collected. To do this, the causes of excess weight are clarified and the time frame for the duration of the disease is identified. The calorie content of the table and the frequency of food intake are specified.
• Conduct a physical examination. The patient is sent for an ultrasound examination of the organs, an electrocardiogram, and a magnetic resonance imaging scan. A blood test is taken for a complete laboratory examination. An important factor is a blood test to determine the level of hormones in the blood. The patient's genetic profile is studied. Eliminates the possibility of hereditary obesity.

Fluctuations in the menstrual cycle

The periods of the menstrual cycle directly affect weight fluctuations. In the days preceding ovulation, body weight is usually minimal, after which it begins to grow, reaching its maximum level by days 28-20, depending on the length of the cycle.

This weight gain is due to the body’s accumulation of fluid, fat and mineral salts necessary for the intended pregnancy. In its absence, the accumulated reserve is “thrown away” with the onset of menstruation.

To minimize the risk of large weight gain in the second half of the cycle, a woman is recommended to:

• consume enough fluid;
• control your appetite;
• exclude sweets, flour, fried, salty foods from the diet;
• do not eat fruits and other sugar-containing foods after 16:00 (at this time, metabolic processes in the body slow down, which can lead to the formation of fat deposits due to the inability to process the food entering the body).

Lack of proper sleep

Sharp weight gain in women (the reasons may be cumulative) in some cases is associated with a lack of proper rest. Such changes in the body are due to the fact that when there is a lack of sleep, the level of insulin in a woman’s blood is constantly at an extremely high level, and the sugar level is low.

In the absence of timely measures taken, this can lead not only to the development of obesity, but also to the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. In the absence of a sufficient amount of deep sleep, the phase of active fat breakdown (normally it begins at 23:00 and ends at 2-3:00 a.m.) is shortened, which leads to a decrease in the rate of metabolic processes.

To avoid jumps in body weight due to lack of adequate sleep, a woman is recommended to:

• go to bed no later than 23-00;
• ventilate the room before going to bed;
• do not use a smartphone or watch TV before bed;

  

• the night before going to bed, drink chamomile tea (if you are not allergic to herbs) and take a relaxing bath.

Insomnia

If you sleep less than normal, you will eat more than normal. The fact is that lack of sleep negatively affects hormonal balance and metabolism. Good sleep increases levels of the hormone leptin, which helps us feel full. In turn, lack of sleep leads not only to decreased production of leptin in the brain, but also increases the production of ghrelin, a hormone that causes hunger. The result is hunger, metabolic disorders and extra pounds.

A 2020 study published in the journal Sleep concluded that people who slept just one hour more per week lost more pounds than those who slept an hour less.

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Insufficient fluid intake

The reason why a woman may notice a sudden weight gain may also be due to insufficient fluid intake. Clean water is an integral part of the process of removing waste and toxins from the body, as well as breaking down the fat layer.

To calculate her norm, a woman should use the generally accepted formula, where 30 g of pure water (tea, coffee, juices, etc. are not taken into account) must be multiplied by 1 kg of actual body weight.

It is important to consume water in equal portions throughout the day . Otherwise, drinking most of the daily volume in one “approach”, a woman risks overloading the kidneys and urinary system.

Lack of adequate fluid leads to:

• slowing down metabolism;
• lack of physiological “cleansing” of the body from toxins and waste products;
• blocking the process of fat breakdown.

State of stress

A state of stress is dangerous for a woman due to weight gain, as it can provoke hormonal imbalances or push its owner to begin to “eat up” the lack of internal harmony.

A stressful state contributes to the release of stress hormones and adrenaline into the blood, which leads to tension in the body at the cellular level: metabolic processes slow down, fluid begins to stagnate, and existing diseases worsen.

To normalize the weight gained due to psychological discomfort, a woman should understand her head, determine the factor that provoked external changes and try to protect herself from it. If you cannot do this yourself, you need to seek help from a psychologist.

If a woman notices a sharp jump in her weight, this is a signal from the body that requires attention to her condition. When increasing body weight, it is important not only to find the cause from a health point of view, but also to stabilize the emotional background. By achieving harmony between the physiological and psychological components, a woman will be able to normalize her weight in the shortest possible time.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome

The functioning of the digestive tract depends on healthy microflora. However, our intestines contain not only beneficial but also harmful bacteria. And if the balance of microflora in it is disturbed, bacterial overgrowth syndrome may develop in the small intestine.

Symptoms of this painful condition are nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, as well as constant bloating and flatulence. Another symptom, in the presence of those already listed above, is sudden weight gain.