Unexplained Weight Gain in Women

Despite balanced diet and exercise, most women find it difficult to maintain weight after childbirth and menopause. Weight gain is usually associated with hormonal imbalance. A woman's body undergoes various changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, etc. Dysfunction of any glands like thyroid or adenoid can result in undetermined weight gain. If women who exercise regularly and who follow a balanced diet notice undetermined weight gain, then they should check the following list for some of the responsible causes.

Causes and Symptoms of Undetermined Weight Gain in Women

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism or inactive thyroid is the most common cause of rapid weight gain in women. Deficiency of thyroid hormones can reduce the rate of metabolism, leading to weight gain. Protein deposits can cause fat accumulation and fluid retention leading to an increase in body weight. Thyroid dysfunction symptoms include fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, swelling in the face, puffy eyes, severe hair loss, dry skin, decreased sweating, depression, poor memory, palpitations, slow speech, hoarse voice, weakness, intolerance to cold and headache, high cholesterol levels, reduced libido, tingling hands and feet, heavy or irregular periods, and infertility or recurrent miscarriages. If hypothyroidism is the reason behind unexplained weight gain, the woman may experience fatigue even after sufficient rest or sleep.

Deficiency of Essential Fatty Acids: Good fats help produce hormones and thus help maintain the metabolic rate. In case of scarcity of good fats in diet, sudden weight gain can be experienced by women. Such deficiency can lead to cravings, mainly for fatty foods. Arthritic and diabetic patients or patients diagnosed with eczema, heart disease, premenstrual syndrome should check for this type of deficiency. Dandruff, dry hair and dry, scaly skin are some of the early symptoms of scarcity of healthy fats in diet.

Menopause: Hormone levels are dramatically affected during menopause. This can result in increased appetite. Moreover, aging slows down the rate of metabolism, which also leads to weight gain. Age related changes in the lifestyle such as less exercise add up to weight gain.

Cushing's Syndrome: Excessive production of the hormone cortisol leads to fat accumulation in the face, abdomen and upper back. Arms and legs usually remain slender. The situation in which abnormally high levels of cortisol are noticed, is known as Cushing's syndrome. Muscle wasting and weakness, thin skin, poor wound healing, easy bruising, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance, purple 'stretch marks' on the abdomen, menstrual irregularities, and hair loss are some of the common symptoms of Cushing's syndrome in women. Undetermined weight gain should never be neglected.

Medications: Doctors recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to women for various reasons. Intake of birth control pills containing estrogen and any HRT can result in fluid retention and increased appetite. Steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants and diabetic medications can also be the reason behind rapid weight gain in women. Medications prescribed for heartburn, migraine, seizures, etc. can cause weight gain in women. One should consult the doctor for alternate medications which would not lead to weight gain. The effect may vary from person to person.

Serious Diseases: Kidney, heart and liver diseases cause fluid retention; leading to general puffiness all over the body (particularly around the eyes and ankles). Ovarian cyst, and obstruction of lymph fluid can also lead to swelling and unexplained weight gain in women. Fibromyalgia often leads to hormonal imbalance, affecting the levels of various hormones like cortisol, thyroid, serotonin, insulin and growth hormones. This means your metabolism can slow down and you can put on weight. So those who are worried about constantly increasing weight should consult a doctor immediately.

Blood Sugar Imbalance: Check whether your diet often consists of simple and refined carbohydrates which lead to quick fluctuations in blood sugar levels. For example, eating chocolate raises the blood sugar level. Simple carbohydrates are digested quickly (are converted into glucose quickly). The hormone insulin which helps to store the sugar properly is released by the body and thus blood sugar levels drop quickly. This process triggers cravings for more sweets, in order to stabilize blood sugar balance. Eating complex carbohydrates is essential to avoid such fluctuations. Consumption of more fruits and vegetables containing dietary fiber is therefore recommended.

Other Causes: It has been found that mitochondrial dysfunction, insomnia (lack of sleep), gastrointestinal problems, leptin (hormone that controls hunger) resistance, genetic disposition, working too much (leading to stress and hormonal imbalance), sedentary lifestyle, lack of proper exercise, consuming foods which do not create a feeling of fullness, excessive consumption of high fructose corn syrup through sweets, drinks and desserts, excessive fasting (leading to slowed down rate of metabolism), etc. can lead to rapid weight gain in women. Women who quit smoking, tend to eat more. Those who drink too much soda or soft drinks are likely to gain weight. Similarly, if your friends eat more, you also tend to eat more.

These were some of the main reasons of unexplained and rapid weight gain in women. Some women try to fight stress or depression by eating favorite food in excessive quantity. Women should keep it in mind that sources of stress may not be always evident, but may still influence eating habits and may cause weight gain. Anti depression medicines as well as excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to weight gain. Thus there are numerous causes of undetermined weight gain. I hope you found the above information beneficial and you won't overlook any of the above mentioned symptoms.