Regardless of your health and fitness goals – whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or live an overall healthier lifestyle, there are certain factors and triggers that may cause your body weight to fluctuate. This can have an effect on reaching your desired health and fitness goals. To negate this, it is important to maintain good health care habits and practice self-awareness. Here is a look at five possible causes of weight gain:
Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals or experts. What is written throughout the content of our website is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical or professional advice. What you choose to do with the information provided is at your own risk and discretion. Before making any significant changes to your diet and / or lifestyle, be sure to contact your health practitioner.
1) CERTAIN MEDICATIONS
Weight gain may be listed as a potential side effect on the label of certain prescribed medications. Some prescription drugs may not directly cause weight gain, but instead may induce an increase in appetite, heighten fluid retention, or bring about other effects that may lead to weight gain. Antihistamines, antidepressants, and birth control, are just a few prescription medications that have been linked to weight gain.
For example, you may have heard of the popular yet unregulated weight gain syrup, Apetamin, that works as an appetite stimulant. Apetamin contains an active ingredient found in prescription-only antihistamine drugs and is combined with different vitamins and ingredients. Due to the fact that its main ingredient is used in prescription-only antihistamine medications, the sale and use of Apetamin is not approved nor entirely safe. However, this example goes to show how the ingredients of certain prescription medications can be one of the causes of weight gain.
2) A LACK OF EXERCISE
To add to the list of potential causes of weight gain, a lack of exercise may be a significant contributor. Regular exercise is great for your overall health. It can help to increase your strength, maintain healthy muscles and bones, as well as better your mood.
A lack of exercise and a particularly sedentary lifestyle can accelerate weight gain. Whether you want to lose weight or gain weight / muscle, exercise is essential. You can do cardio exercise to quickly burn calories, or you can do strength-based exercises to build and tone muscle mass.
3) VARIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS
In addition to external factors that can cause weight gain, there are certain internal factors that may or may not be out of our control that may also bring about weight gain. There are certain health conditions, some physical and some psychological, that can lead to weight gain.
For example, hormonal changes (e.g. menopause) can have an effect on your metabolism and trigger weight gain. To add to this, stress, pregnancy, and certain thyroid disorders, are just a few more examples of health conditions that may be a cause of weight gain.
4) SUGARY JUNK FOODS
Another one of the common causes of weight gain are sugary junk foods. Examples of junk foods include fast foods, packaged chips and candies, processed foods, etc. These types of foods are also called “empty calorie” foods. Junk foods and empty calorie foods are foods that offer little to no nutritional content or benefit.
Instead, they are often packed with added sugars, fats, high amounts of sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients. This combination of unwholesome additives can lead to weight gain and other adverse health effects over time. Try to maintain a healthful diet in the effort to reach whichever health and fitness goals you may have.
5) A SURPLUS OF CALORIES IN YOUR DIET
A surplus of calories in your diet, whether intentional or unintentional, can be another cause of weight gain. A calorie surplus in your diet is defined as eating more calories than you burn off. When you are consistently consuming and retaining more calories than you burn off, you can expect to gain some weight.
A calorie deficit is where you are burning off more calories than you consume. A calorie deficit is also where weight loss can be seen. When you are neither at a substantial calorie surplus or calorie deficit in your diet, you will for the most part maintain your current body weight. You can speak with your doctor or nutritionist to figure out a diet plan that is best for your lifestyle.
References:
1 “Can Prescription Drugs Cause Weight Gain? – Drugs.Com”. Drugs.Com, 2019, https://www.drugs.com/article/weight-gain.html.
2 “Apetamin: Uses, Legality, And Side Effects”. Healthline, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apetamin.
3 “The Top 10 Benefits Of Regular Exercise”. Healthline, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise#section1.
4 “What Causes Unintentional Weight Gain?”. Healthline, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/weight-gain-unintentional.