Are you gaining weight?  Eating more calories and burning less is a justifiable reason for weight gain. Unhealthy foods, junk foods, sugary drinks and giant portions of food leading to weight gain are also not surprising. But, if you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle – eating healthy foods, keeping a check on the calories and exercising regularly – you have a reason to get worried when you gain weight. How does one explain the needle of the weighing scale showing an upward trend in such cases? This weight gain calls for immediate action and one needs to delve into the problem. There are some surprising reasons that can explain the increase in weight in spite of a healthy lifestyle.

Lack of sleep: This might be one of the reasons for those extra kilos around your waistline. There is a very strong relationship between lack of sleep and weight gain. Late nights or interrupted sleep leads to sleep deprivation and this could be the reason for your weight gain. Sleep deprivation alters the hunger-related hormones. It causes an increase in the hunger hormone and decrease in the hormones that make you feel full and satisfied. Sleep deprivation not only leads to an increase in the appetite, it also increases the preference for calorie-dense, high carbohydrate foods. It also affects the basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn when you rest to maintain normal functions). Latest research shows that sleep deprivation slows down the bodyʼs metabolism the next morning and, therefore, fewer calories are burnt off.  This can lead to weight gain.

Tips:

• Avoid late nights if you do not want to add extra kilos around your waistline. A good nightʼs sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the body.
• Exercising can help you sleep better.
• If your sleep pattern has got disturbed and you are unable to sleep well, try eating melatonin-rich tart cherries. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate sleep patterns and is produced in small amounts by the body. Eat tart cherries loaded with melatonin one hour prior to your sleep time.

Stress: Stress is an inevitable part of life in modern days. It is not surprising that stress might be the underlying cause for the needle of the weighing scale creeping up. Stress and weight go hand in hand. Scientific research shows that stress is a key player in weight gain. There is an increase in the levels of the hormone called cortisol when the body is under stress to fight the situation. This hormone slows down the metabolism and triggers fat storage. Stress not only slows down metabolism, it also interferes with the hormones that control appetite and satiety. Besides stimulating appetite, stress also has an impact on the food choices. Stress increases craving for foods high in carbohydrates, sugars and salts. Thus, eating more calories and unhealthy foods coupled with slow metabolism, stress can be the culprit for weight increase.

Tips for reducing stress:

• Exercise and relaxation techniques can help you beat the stress.
• Yoga and meditation can also be a good help.
• Engage yourself in some hobby to de-stress.
• Listen to music. Music soothes the soul and has tremendous power to reduce stress.
• Eat healthy and control portions.

Medication and weight gain: Certain medicines used to treat conditions like depression, migraines, seizures, schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders are known to cause weight gain. Medicines used to control blood pressure and diabetes could be the culprit behind weight gain. Hormone replacement therapy, steroids used to treat chronic inflammation, allergies and rheumatoid arthritis and oral contraceptives might be the cause of your weight increase in spite of controlled diet and exercise regimen. In case medicines are increasing those extra pounds, consult your doctor.

Tips:

• Do not stop the medicines on your own because they might be critical to your health.
• Increase your physical activity and exercise regularly.
• Do not indulge in overeating and avoid foods high on calories.
• Consult a nutritionist, dietitian or physical trainer.
• A small lifestyle change can do wonders for you.

Hypothyroidism: There is a very close association between thyroid functions and weight. Hypothyroidism, a medical condition caused by a deficiency of the thyroid hormone by an under-active thyroid gland, is the most common cause of weight gain. Metabolism is basically controlled by the thyroid.

Hypothyroidism and weight increase go hand in hand since a low thyroid function slows down the metabolism. Once the metabolism slows down, the number of calories burnt reduces and one can see the needle of the weighing scale showing an upward trend. Deficiency of the thyroid hormone can also lead to fluid retention, further contributing to weight gain. Hypothyroidism usually causes fatigue and lethargy which sometimes results in decreased physical activity further contributing to weight gain.

Tip: Consult a doctor and take medical advice.

Menopause: Menopausal women often find it difficult to maintain a steady weight and notice changes in their body shapes. The sudden change in the body shape from a ”pear” shape to an “apple” shape and the dreaded “Buddha belly” is not uncommon in menopausal women.

Women in the age group of the 40s and 50s often gain weight.  Menopause could be the culprit behind this weight gain. The changes in the body contours and weight increase are due to changes in the hormone levels. There is a decrease in the levels of oestrogen hormones. There is a shift in the body fat from hips and thighs to belly. Low levels of oestrogen favour fat deposition in the belly area rather than hips and thighs. In fact, women tend to lose weight in the hip and thigh areas with the decrease in oestrogen levels. Increased bloating and water retention that makes you look heavy are very common in menopausal women due to the drop in the levels of progesterone.

Hormonal change during menopause often triggers appetite, slows down the metabolism and causes lack of sleep. The cumulative effect of all these can also add those extra pounds. Menopausal women tend to exercise less in comparison with women of other age groups. This could also lead to weight gain.

Tips:

• A combination of calorie controlled diet and regular exercise – i.e., lifestyle changes – is a simple solution to thwarting menopausal weight gain.
• Go for herbal supplements to balance the hormone levels.