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6 Causes of Unintentional Weight Gain and How to Change Them

  • 4 min read

You woke up one morning, stepped on the scales, and were surprised that you gained weight. It doesn’t make sense since you’ve been eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and trying to stay fit. Now you’re overthinking the reasons behind your weight gain. Hmmm…

Don’t worry, you are not alone! These unintentional reasons why you may be gaining weight may go unnoticed but let’s take a look at ways how to circumvent them. This article aims to help you uncover the mysteries. As the old saying goes, “knowing is always half the battle”.

Here are 6 reasons why you might be gaining weight, as well as some suggestions for avoiding them:

 

a person with her hands on her head and her eyes closed

1.Dehydration

One university study found out that drinking two cups of water before each meal may significantly help with accelerating weight loss.[1] This could be a good technique to avoid overeating since the body may feel slightly fuller before beginning a meal. Therefore, it should come as no surprise if a dehydrated individual starts to gain weight. When you’re dehydrated, the body will conserve water for vital bodily functions. This condition may result in water retention which may lead to weight gain in some individuals.

a woman drinking a glass of water

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Check to see if you're drinking 8 glasses of water every day and if not, gradually increase your intake until it reaches the recommended amount. You can also flavor your water with natural flavors like lemon, cucumber, or mint, for added taste..

 

 

a woman with her hand on her throat

2. Sluggish Thyroid

Your thyroid, located low on the front of the neck, regulates a wide range of bodily functions including metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid can become underactive.[2] Your metabolism slows down and even with the right portion of intake, your body considers it as excessive. The worst part about acquiring this bodily condition is that it often develops slowly and a big chunk of the population doesn’t notice this until it is full-blown, say health experts.

a doctor holding a patients shoulder

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
It would be best to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment options for hypothyroidism. You may also be given recommendations for a healthy diet and things to avoid.

 

 

 

a person eating a sandwich in front of a refrigerator

3. Overeating Healthy Foods

Many healthy and delicious foods such as avocados, oatmeal, dark chocolate, nuts, and nut butter can lead to weight gain when eaten in excess. Portion size always matters as you may be exhausting the body. Remember that some things done in excess can be bad for you.

 

A woman holding a salad bowl

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
Consume nutritious foods, however, keep in mind to consume a controlled portion of your meals. Sticking to the suggested portion amount might help you with weight loss.

 

 

 

 

a woman sitting at a desk with her feet on a table with an open laptop

4. Staying Up Late

You may be eating right and exercising regularly, however, all of these efforts may be put to waste if you’re staying up too late to catch up on your favorite shows. Studies have revealed that the lack of sleep you receive may be associated with higher BMI levels. Sleep deprivation may increase the levels of the hunger hormone ‘ghrelin’, and decrease levels of ‘leptin’, the satiety hormone. Furthermore, our brains may tend to respond more strongly to junk food to compensate for the short hours of sleep. [4]

A man lying in bed sleeping

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
According to studies, after a week or two of getting enough sleep, hunger urges may begin to fade. Having said that, constantly keep track of your sleep hours and work hard to enhance them until they are consistent with seven (7) to eight (8) hours. [4]

 

 

 

a man lying his head on a laptop with a rock on his head

5. Stressful Job

The level of stress of an individual’s job may lead to negative effects on weight management. Stress produces a hormone called ‘cortisol’. Once cortisol is produced by the body, it may cause triglycerides to be relocated to visceral fat cells which, in turn, increases the storage of belly fats. It may also have an effect on blood glucose which could lead to constant feelings of hunger and overeating.[5]

a woman sitting with her hands behind her head

 

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
Make a good working atmosphere for yourself. Don't get worked out about things you can't alter; instead, concentrate on the ones you can. If you've been overburdened with work, talk to your boss about it and make any necessary compromises. Avoid remaining at work for extended periods of time and get more rest.

 

 

 

a close up image of an elderly's hand

6. Aging

When we get older, we may start to lose muscle mass. Losing muscle mass may also result in a slowing our metabolism. If we continue to eat the same amount of food as we did when we were younger, the tendency is to elevate the chances of our

a old man and woman doing yoga

body to gain weight.[6]

 

 

What Steps Can I Take?
As you become older, why not try to be more active? A combination of running and weight-bearing exercise may be a good approach to keep your body active.

 

 

If you are looking to help support your weight loss goals, you may want to consider a supplement. Nature’s Branch  Forskolin contain an exclusive formula with 40% standardized potency delivering a 300mg coleus forskohlii root extract in each capsule. Forskolin helps promote weight management, metabolism while supporting hunger cravings throughout the day.* 

 

 

A bottle of Nature's branch Forskolin Supplement on top of a wooden table

 

While your workout and diet efforts are something to be considered for weight management, keep these points in mind. So get up and think about your daily routine. Today is your first day to get the show on the road!

 

Remember to consult your doctor or physician before taking any supplement.

 

References:

  1. NS. (2010, August 25). Two Cups Of Water Before Each Meal Enhanced Weight Loss In Clinical Trial. APN News. https://www.apnnews.com/two-cups-of-water-before-each-meal-enhanced-weight-loss-in-clinical-trial/?msclkid=fa1b8582c6f111ec8e21d7d771183c1d

  2. Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid). (2022, April 27). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism?msclkid=7b52b8a6c6f311ecbf4fd3fb9502c654

  3. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Depression and weight gain: the serotonin connection. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8300977/

  4. National Institutes of Health. (2016, July 13). Molecular ties between lack of sleep and weight gain. NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/molecular-ties-between-lack-sleep-weight-gain?msclkid=47f4739fc6f511ecbcf6b81d4577a2c8

  5. Scott, E PhD (2021, January 5). How Stress Can Cause Weight Gain. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-stress-can-cause-weight-gain-3145088#:%7E:text=Researchers%20have%20long%20known%20that%20rises%20in%20the,source%20of%20energy%29%20is%20released%20into%20your%20bloodstream.?msclkid=614d8c82c6f611ecafe8951d608c5204

 

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