Gaining Weight? It Could Be A Health Condition

While it can definitely be argued that our society is overly-concerned with looks, keeping an eye on your weight is an important factor in quality of life.

Weight gain can be a cause for many diseases, including heart disease, which is a leading cause of death in North America.

I help patients maintain their weight all the time in my practice as a naturopathic doctor in Toronto.

We look at a number of factors and I craft a custom plan for each of my patients – after all, the circumstances are different for each, requiring different interventions.

Obviously, Diet And Exercise Have To Do With It

If you’ve been gaining weight, the first thing to do is rule out the most obvious factors.

Have there been any changes in your diet or exercise routine?

You may have to be brutally honest with yourself here, and possibly even do some research by logging your food intake for a few weeks.

As well, from a fitness point of view, it may be that you need to switch up your routine or add some more weight lifting or cardio.

Health Conditions That Can Cause Weight Gain

Now, if you’ve ruled out exercise or diet as a main factor in your weight gain, then it’s time to look at some health conditions that could be contributing to it.

Here I list the primary conditions for you, as you may already be dealing with one or more of these.

Each of these conditions entail different treatments in order to better manage the weight gain going forward.

1. Diabetes

Diabetics often experience weight gain, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, if you are taking insulin to manage your blood sugar levels, weight gain is a common side effect of this important medicine.

Secondly, as a diabetic, you might be eating more than you should, as your brain automatically tries to manage your diabetes with consumed calories.

2. Stress And Depression

Mental health challenges like stress and depression, can affect your weight, but it’s different with everyone.

Some people don’t eat well at all when they’re dealing with a difficult mental health period, but others use food as a coping mechanism.

Patients who gain weight due to depression often tell me they become even further depressed over the weight gain itself; it becomes a vicious cycle for them until we can put a halt to it.

If you notice that you eat more when you’re feeling low, consider replacing it with another action, such as having a bath, going for a walk or exercising, calling a friend, or working on a hobby like crocheting.

Failing that, try to replace the junk food you eat during a difficult time with healthier alternatives that are less fattening.

3. PCOS

PCOS is a common abbreviation for polycystic ovary syndrome.

As it sounds, this condition originates in the ovaries, and causes weight gain, excess hair growth, irregular periods and difficulty getting pregnant.

It’s not known precisely what causes PCOS, but it’s generally thought to be hormone related.

Whether it’s due to too much insulin or too much testosterone, women with PCOS usually notice the weight added is around their waist.

4. Insomnia & Sleep Disruption

We’re generally advised to get at least eight hours of sleep a night for optimal sleep – and it turns out, this is a good guideline for keeping weight off, too.

Some studies show a clear correlation between people who get less sleep and the likelihood of their being overweight.

Part of the reason may be because lack of sleep causes your body to produce too much insulin and cortisol; these hormones are known to cause weight gain.

Other hormones triggered by poor sleep are those that signal hunger and make you crave fatty food.

If you’re struggling with insomnia, it might have a medical cause.

However, it may also be a result of shift work – in that case, there are ways to reduce your risk of shift work related illnesses.

5. Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very serious condition in which you stop breathing in your sleep for several seconds.

This is a common condition amongst those who are overweight or obese; some of the symptoms include being a noisy snorer and feeling tired during the daytime.

Even though it can be caused by obesity, it can also be a cause of further weight gain, compounding its danger.

Sleep apnea can also increase your likelihood of having heart failure, high blood pressure and liver problems.

If it is severe enough, you can get a CPAP breathing machine that you can wear to bed at night.

6. Menopause

Menopause – or even perimenopause – can be a reason for your weight gain.

It’s not so much a health condition as it is a simple fact of life for those who menstruate, but it’s still something to factor in.

However, menopausal weight gain could be because you’ve become less active as you’ve gotten older, or it could be due to fluctuating hormones.

As you know from reading above, poor sleep is another culprit we often see with weight-gain, and many people who menstruate report their sleep suffers as they get older.

Add in some emotional eating due to depression, and you suddenly have a perfect storm for weight gain.

However, the causes can be identified and treated, so not all is lost, if this could be the cause of your weight gain.

7. Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome is extremely rare, so the likelihood of this being the cause of your weight gain is low.

However, if you have had long-term steroid treatment, find you bruise easily, have large purple stretchmarks, or a round and ruddy face, this condition might be worth investigating further.

Cushing can also be caused by a tumor, and is linked to having high levels of cortisol in your body.

8. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the medical name for having an underactive thyroid.

Your thyroid produces hormones, and when that process stops or slows down, it affects your metabolism.

Anyone of any age can suffer from an underactive thyroid, though hypothyroidism is most common in older women.

Book An Appointment With Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND

If you’ve read through this and one or more of these factors have caught your attention, I’m happy to do a call with you to discuss your concerns.

Call now to book an appointment with me, and we can run through your situation and come up with a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Suffering with weight gain – especially when you’re still active and eating well – can be frustrating.

Don’t wait any longer to get help – call now.