10 Tremendously Unexpected Causes Of Sudden Weight Gain

We have all experienced weight gain at some point in time, especially around Christmas, but sometimes the weight gain is very sudden, and we end up scratching our heads trying to figure out why. We tend to start counting back what we’ve eaten lately, how much we’ve eaten, or if we’ve been drinking a little too much alcohol, as that is a known weight gain culprit. But what if none of these things are responsible? Then what could it be? Here are 10 common causes of sudden weight gain.

An Underactive Thyroid

The medical terminology for an underactive thyroid is hypothyroidism. Your thyroid is a gland, and when it is underactive, it doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormones. It is these hormones that regulate your metabolism, so when it is underactive, the metabolism slows, which results in the gaining of weight. 

Cushing’s Syndrome

This is a very rare condition that can be caused by either a particular type of tumor or by taking steroids over a long period of time. Cushing’s syndrome is when the body creates high levels of a hormone called cortisol, and the most common symptom is weight gain, especially on the face, stomach and chest. The weight gain takes place because high levels of cortisol results in the redistribution of fat to those parts of the body. This can be treated in two different ways, depending on the underlying cause. If there is a tumor, surgery can remove this. If it is due to steroid treatment, these can be either withdrawn or reduced.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Many women suffer from PCOS without even realizing it, until the symptoms become severe. PCOS is caused by multiple cysts appearing on the ovaries, as well as an increase in body hair growth and difficulties with menstruation or fertility. The number one symptom is weight gain. Although the exact cause of the weight gain is unknown, it is believed to be caused by hormone problems, namely too much insulin. Sadly, when you gain weight you produce more insulin, which results in even more weight gain. 

Liver Failure

If you were suffering from liver failure you would definitely know about it, but it is worth mentioning because of the weight gain that can occur suddenly. The common causes of liver failure or end stage liver disease are alcohol abuse and hepatitis, and as the liver function fails, fluid can accumulate in the abdomen. This fluid is called ascites, and is usually painless but can lead to serious complications if left untreated. 

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Ascites of the abdomen is often mistaken for weight gain, but if you do suffer from liver failure, get any weight gain checked out immediately.

More Causes Of Sudden Weight Gain

Treatment For Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease of epidemic proportions around the globe, and it is very common for diabetics to gain weight. How quickly they gain it will depend on the management of their diabetes, the complications they have, and what their treatment regime is. For those who are treated with insulin, they are more likely to gain weight, because they tend to eat the foods that are equal to their dose of insulin. Basically, this means they are eating much more than they need to be eating to control their sugar levels. The fear of developing hypoglycemia seems to be the drive behind this habit.

Medications

• Steroids or corticosteroids are well known to cause weight gain, because they make you feel hungry more often.
• Anti-depressants often have a side effect of weight gain.
• Anti-psychotic medications are renowned for increasing weight by increasing the appetite.
• Contraceptive medicines

Often, when a doctor prescribes one of these medications they will inform you of the risk of weight gain. However, because of the nature of the conditions these medications treat, the benefit of taking the drug far outweighs the risk.

Getting Older

Unfortunately, as we get older we tend to gain more weight. Generally this is due to a reduced amount of exercise that occurs with age, due to medical conditions or joint disorders preventing us from getting out and about as much as we do when we’re younger. When you are less active, your muscle mass gets lost, and because muscles are calorie burners, this loss of muscle mass results in less calories being burnt.

Stress And Depression

People who suffer from stress and depression often gain weight for a couple of reasons. First, some people are emotional eaters, so when they are stressed or depressed they turn to food for comfort. Although this doesn’t happen to everyone, it is very common. If you are an emotional eater, it is very important to learn methods of distracting yourself from food and how to replace this urge with an alternative. The other cause of weight gain if you suffer from depression in particular is due to treatment with anti-depressants. Many of these have a common side effect which is weight gain, or overeating. If this is the case, you can talk to your doctor about finding a medication that is better suited to you.

Lack Of Sleep

Strange but true, lack of sleep could cause you to gain weight. Research shows that those who get less than the recommended 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night are more likely to gain weight, though the reasons behind this are not clearly known. One theory is that the lack of sleep causes a reduced level of leptin which is the chemical that makes you feel full after eating. As well as the leptin, another hormone called ghrelin is often higher, and this is the hormone that stimulates hunger. So, on one hand you have the inability to recognize you are full, and the other hand, you have a hormone that tells you you’re hungry! 

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Fluid Retention

Also referred to as edema, fluid retention can occur for a number of reasons. Some people just retain fluid more readily than others, strangely due to dehydration. Other causes of fluid retention can include heart disease, kidney failure or some types of medication. You can usually tell if you are retaining fluid because your extremities, your abdomen and your face can all appear swollen. Rapid weight gain and fluid retention must always be reported to your doctor to rule out underlying conditions.