Weight loss has been the hottest topic discussed ever and it still remains the most popular topic. It is overwhelming to know that more than 35.7% adults are overweight worldwide and about 6.3% of overweight persons are obese. Obesity and overweight are the main factors contributing to life-threatening disorders like blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, arthritis, fatty liver problems and much more. It goes without saying that overweight lowers one’s self esteem apart from causing various medical issues.
This article deals with the various factors that cause weight gain and the ways of treating weight loss medically and managing it through home remedies and life-style modifications. According to the data given by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive/Kidney diseases are obese and both men and women are equally obese worldwide. You may be surprised to know that one out of every 5 children below age 6 are obese and this occurs primarily due to wrong lifestyle and food habits.
Understand Obesity and Overweight
A person having BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 30 is considered to be obese. Excess volumes of body fat would be present in such people. A person having more body weight than his limits is considered to be overweight. Body weight can come from his bones, muscles or fat and in this case weight is equally distributed in the body. BMI of an overweight person would stand below 30.
Weight Loss Symptoms
- It is easy to identify overweight by simply checking your BMI.
- Needless to say, that your trousers may not be fitting you as before if you have gained weight and you may need larger size.
- You would have bulging stomach and extra fat build-up around your waist.
- Further many people may have symptoms like shortness of breath, difficulty in walking (due to arthritis) and sleeping problems due to overweight.
- And weight gain does not happen overnight but is a process that happens gradually.
Causes Of Overweight
Various factors contribute for weight gain and let us discuss them in separate headings.
Medical Factors
- Hypothyroidism – If the thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormones to check the metabolism you are said to have under-active thyroid or hypothyroidism. This disorder can occur in any age but is more common in aged women than men. Thyroid hormone normally secretes enough amounts of thyroid stimulating the metabolism of the body to burn fat and regulating calories. But due to some reason when the gland fails to produce enough hormones you may become overweight in spite of following dieting and exercising. Your doctor may prescribe suitable hormone replacement pills for regulating the function of thyroid gland.
- Diabetes Mellitus – People who are diabetic and taking insulin are more prone to gain weight than others. Taking insulin for long-term helps in managing blood sugar level but at the same time it can make you hungrier forcing you to take additional snacks.
- Intake of Steroids – Corticosteroids are prescribed commonly for many conditions like arthritis and asthma which when used for long-term can cause weight gain. The more you depend on steroid drugs the more is the chance for putting weight since these medications will make you more hungry by affecting specific brain areas stimulating appetite forcing you to eat more than your need.
- Cushing Syndrome – Cushing syndrome is a rare disorder that produces excess amounts of cortisol hormone leading to weight gain. This occurs largely for people who are in steroid treatment for long-term and in some cases due to tumor development in specific areas inducing hormone secretion. Cortisol can cause excess of weight gain and obesity related problems.
- Fluid Retention – Edema or fluid retention can cause swelling in various parts of the body. Fluid gets accumulated in certain parts like face, ankles and stomach leading to overweight. Fluid retention can also cause serious problems in heart and kidney and it is necessary for you to check with your GP if you have fluid retention.
- Medications – Excess of weight can occur due to side effect of many drugs including steroids, insulin and certain anti-psychotic drugs. People who are taking antidepressant drugs for long can become overweight in due course. It is believed that certain types of oral contraceptives can cause weight gain and fluid retention.
Non-Medical Reasons
- Age – As one grows older he/she becomes less active losing muscle mass largely. This can also slow down the metabolism rate making them physically inactive leading to weight gain.
- Stress – Increasing stress can sometimes cause weight gain. Many people are prone to eat more during emotional distress adding more fat to their body. Likewise, depressed mood can make one to find solace in food causing overweight. Mood does not affect every person in the same way. Some people may lose weight due to depression and others may gain weight.
- Deprivation Of Sleep – Not having enough sleep during night can contribute for weight gain. Sleeping problems can make you hungry easy by stimulating hunger hormone. Sleep-deprivation can cause fatigue which in turn reduces one’s physical activity leading to overweight.
- Wrong Diet Habit – Eating fatty and fried items and late night snaking can definitely cause increase in weight. Many of us don’t know what to eat and how to eat. We are ready to spend hundreds of dollars at parlor and clothing but hesitate to buy fresh vegetables and fruits that keep us healthy.
- Watching Television and Eating – Often we end up eating more while watching TV programs and favorite movies. Moreover your mind is not tuned to produce digestive hormones since it is preoccupied with television. Hence necessary digestive enzymes are not produced leading to building of fat. Likewise eating large food portions has become a routine for many people. Fast foods give you more calories and fats than you expect building more and more fat blocks in the body.
- Sedentary lifestyle – Younger generation spend hours together with computer, laptops and television without knowing that it can lead to weight gain and obesity. Nowadays people don’t even go for shopping making their best choices online thereby not giving opportunity for moving around. Calories are not burnt fully in this sedentary life-style causing increase in weight. Modern technology has made mankind lazy and physically inactive causing various health problems. Extended working hours does not permit some people to go for gym and spend time for aerobics.
- Family History – Genes are one of the causes of overweight. The chance of becoming obese is doubly increased if either or both of your parents are overweight.
Diagnosis
Your GP would request for a series of tests to check the cause of weight gain which includes laboratory tests like blood culture and thyroid hormone test. If any other symptoms are present suitable functional tests would be ordered. He would also make nutritional assessment to find out if there is any deficiency of essential nutrients.