Sudden Weight Gain in Women

Sometimes, women might start to experience a sudden weight gain. Weight gain during pregnancy is common, but it is a progressive weight gain. Also, a periodic weight gain can occur with menstruation. But, what causes sudden weight gain in women? Sudden weight gain in women can be due to various reasons. Here are some sudden weight gain causes.

What Causes Sudden Weight Gain in Women?

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #1
Sudden increase in your body weight is usually because you take in more calories than that are required or used by your body. Further, these unused calories lead to fat storage. So, taking in more calories, when you are on low level activities, leads to stuffing of unused calories. One of the primary reasons for sudden weight gain in women is overeating, that too unhealthy food. When overeating is not supported by necessary exercises, it will lead to increased weight. Though, there can be certain medical conditions causing sudden weight gain in women, eating and exercising habit must be reviewed first. Eating a balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and avoiding food high in fats is very essential.

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #2
Smoking is another lifestyle related cause of sudden weight gain in women. Smoking can lead to considerable weight gain in women. Quitting smoking can really prove helpful. Also, keeping some health snacks with you will help you stay away from unhealthy junk food, which is another common cause of sudden weight gain in women.

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #3
A common health condition that is one of the frequent causes of sudden weight gain in women is hypothyroidism. If there is deficiency of thyroid hormone in your body, it will lead to reduced metabolism of food. As a result, there will be loss of appetite, followed by modest weight gain. Protein deposits in your body cause fat accumulation and fluid retention leading to weight gain. Weight gain being the most common symptom of hypothyroidism, other symptoms are swelling of face, puffy eyes, fatigue, lethargy, decreased sweating, poor memory and weakness. Women of any age can be affected by hypothyroidism. More on:

• Sudden Weight Gain Causes
• Hormones and Weight Gain

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #4
One of the common causes of sudden weight gain in women, is excess of the hormone cortisol in their body. In this health condition, known as Cushing's syndrome, the face, abdomen and upper back are the areas where fat accumulates and rest of the body remains slender. Along with weight gain, other common symptoms of this disorder are weakness, thin skin, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance and irregular menstrual cycle.

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #5
Stress can be one of the major reasons for sudden weight gain in women. It can influence eating habits of women to a great extent, leading to excessive eating and thus causing weight gain. Anxiety, stress, depression and other emotional factors can also cause weight gain. There are many phases in a woman's life linked to emotional issues. Dealing with stress or depression can, often, slow down their metabolism. Such people usually eat foods high in carbohydrates, which give a calming effect, as these foods trigger an increase in serotonin. More on: controlling anxiety and depression.

Sudden Weight Gain in Women: Cause #6
Medications are amongst the primary causes of sudden weight gain in women. Many drugs and medicines are known to have various side effects, weight gain being one of common amongst them. Antidepressants, steroids, diabetic medications, birth control pills, corticosteroids and other hormonal pills cause fluid retention and increased appetite, leading to sudden weight gain in women.

Sudden weight gain in women, definitely, does not happen without reason. As soon as you experience sudden weight gain, you can get it properly diagnosed by an experienced doctor. If the reason of sudden weight gain in women is not healthy, then it is essential that you review your lifestyle. Eating habits, smoking, exercising, job stress, etc. must be reviewed. If your busy schedule does not allow you to indulge in an exercise program, you can still do a simple jogging or walking exercise everyday for weight control. A healthy diet is also what you need to have, excluding all the junk food. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep those extra pounds away!