Have you ever gained weight and you just didn’t know why? Your diet and exercise seemed the same, and yet the scale kept climbing up? Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition, so if you have sudden severe unexplained weight gain, you should always see your doctor. However, if you are just struggling to lose some unwanted pounds or slowly seeing your weight creep up, check out these hidden causes of weight gain!
You are not getting enough sleep, or your sleep is interrupted.
Are you so busy that work and life is causing you to not get enough zzz’s? Are you suffering from insomnia? Waking up frequently in the night? Have poor quality sleep? When we don’t get enough sleep, our stress hormone (cortisol) levels go up. Additionally, leptin (a hormone that helps maintain normal body weight by making us feel full) goes down, and ghrelin (a hormone produced by the gut that that tells you when you are hungry) increases without sufficient sleep.
So, with sleep deprivation you tend to be hungrier, eat more, snack more, and pick foods that are higher in fat and carbs. Studies also show that when people diet by restricting calories, those who are sleep deprived lose less fat mass than those who get sufficient amounts of sleep. What can you do? Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, and if you are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor.
You are anxious or depressed.
Increased appetite can be a symptom of anxiety or depression. While some people lose their appetite with anxious or depressed mood, others want to eat everything. (Ever heard the phrase “eat your feelings?”). If you have been eating when you aren’t particularly hungry or eating comfort foods, you may want to ask yourself if you have other symptoms of a mood disorder such as:
Anxious, depressed, or irritable mood
Sleeping too much or not enough
Not wanting to do things that you usually find enjoyable
Excessive worrying
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
If these describe you, you should talk to your doctor as treating your anxiety and/or depression may help!
You are on medications that cause weight gain.
Some medications can cause weight gain, so check your medication list. Here are some examples:
Beta-blockers –metoprolol, atenolol, labetalol, propranolol
SSRIs –paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Lexapro).
mirtazapine (Remeron)
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin.
Anti-Psychotics – thioridazine (Thorazine), clozapine (Klonapin), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperidal)
Anti-seizure medications – valproic acid (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Corticosteroids – prednisone, prednisolone
Diabetes medications – pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), insulin
Birth control – Depo-Provera, Nexplanon
You should never stop medication without first talking to your doctor. Some medication you may not be able to stop, but sometimes your doctor may be able to switch you to an alternative medication that doesn’t affect your weight. So, ask!
Your gut microbiome is off.
The microbiome is the variety of good bacteria that naturally live in our intestines (gut) that function as part of our immune and endocrine systems. Many things affect our microbiome including our diet. Studies show that there is an inverse association between the number of strains of bacteria in the gut and BMI. This means that people who struggle with weight tend to have a fewer strains of good bacteria in their gut. While these studies cannot really tell us what came first (chicken or the egg situation), we can do some things to try to improve our microbiome.
Eating foods with lots of fiber, taking prebiotics, and taking probiotics can all improve gut health. While additional studies need to be done, early evidence points to the fact that these supplements may help with weight loss and insulin resistance.
You are under a lot of stress (and not coping well).
Who doesn’t have stress? While we all face stressful situations from time to time (and some of us tend to live in the midst of stress ALL the time!), studies show it is not the amount of stress we have but rather how we handle the stress that matters. Some people tend to be reactive – their body creates a lot of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes an increase in appetite and subsequently weight gain. Other people do not get as much of a spike in cortisol, and they do not have this response. So, what do you do if you are feeling stressed, eating more, and gaining weight? Seek out a therapist to discuss coping strategies.
You are consuming artificial sweeteners.
Switched to diet soda instead of regular to skip the calories? This seems like a great plan to keep the weight off, but studies show that artificial sweeteners alter glucose metabolism, lead to insulin resistance, and may even cause weight gain. Consuming artificial sweeteners can alter your gut microbiome in a negative way and that may be how it leads to insulin resistance. What can you do if you want to avoid sugar? Natural plant-based sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit seem to be safer.
What Should I Do Now?
If you are struggling with weight gain, you should see your doctor. I am accepting patients in my virtual clinic who live in states where I am licensed and would love to see you.
Have a question for me or an idea for my blog? Feel free to reach out via email contact@jackiestonemd.com.
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