Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Last Updated: Oct 07, 2019
BookMark
Report

Top 7 Possible Causes Of Weight Gain In Women!

Profile Image
Dt. Surbhi JoshiDietitian/Nutritionist • 16 Years Exp.M.Sc - Dietitics / Nutrition
Topic Image

The problem of obesity or weight gain is increasing by leaps and bounds among the people of almost all the age groups. This rising health issue is not only a reason for a bad figure and body shape but is also a major cause of in-numerous diseases. Especially, women are being affected by sudden weight gain in stomach and thighs because of several reasons. It is surprising to know that these reasons are not special or unknown but related to their daily life and living style.

Let’s explore the top 7 possible causes of weight in women:

Compromising on sleep

Maintaining a balance between work and family demands for compromises and the biggest sacrifice which women make here is proper sleep. Getting ready for work, making lunch, daily household chores, getting kids ready for school, everything leads to a lot of tiredness. To eradicate it, you need sufficient hours of rest. Studies have proved that lack of sleep increases the levels of Ghretin- a hunger hormone which leads to overeating and this results into excessive weight gain in a short period of time. Sleep is as important as a good diet to stop gaining extra calories. So, if you are also not taking a deep sleep, start it right away!

Depression

Depression and obesity are intertwined, symptoms of both the problems affect each other. If you have put on a lot of weight it can lead you to depression and vice versa. So, which one came first, no one exactly knows. When depression sets in, it affects your weight severely, the appetite control centre of the brain loses its power to decide how much to eat. This illness is most common among the women as they are stressed and sometimes get tensed very quickly. This issue if not treated at early stages can later give birth to serious diseases like diabetes, heart problems, thyroid and many more. You need to address this, before it takes a serious turn!

Menopause

At the age between 45 to 55 menstruation ceases in women and this is known as Menopause. But what it generally brings in is obesity. Studies show that about 35% of women aged between 50 to 55 are obese. The fat at the waistline increases after menopause and this is the major reason of weight gain. The lower levels of estrogens makes them eat more and remain physically inactive, all these processes ultimately increase the fat storage hence making them overweight. This problem is to be considered seriously before you are affected by any fatal disease.

Thyroid

Many more women than men suffer from thyroid and weight gain. This is because they undergo a lot of stress that finally affects their thyroid function. Mostly in this case the problems occur within the thyroid gland and appear later with a large imbalance in hormones. Thyroid, weight gain and menopause are therefore interrelated issues. If not cured at the earliest, it can be detrimental.

PCOD/PCOS(Polycystic Ovarian Disease/Syndrome)

Polycystic ovarian disease or Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which a female’s hormones are imbalanced. This disease has affected 5% to 10 % of women between the age group of 12 to 45 causing, irregular menstrual periods or even difficulty to conceive. If not treated on time it can lead to high insulin levels, obesity and ultimately heart diseases. The weight gained due to PCOD is difficult to lose. Hence it should be cured before this condition becomes disastrous.

Pregnancy

This happens most of the time that women put on weight when they are expecting. Moms to be need to take care in this condition otherwise excessive weight gain can lead to many serious issues during their delivery. Bring obese at the time of pregnancy will not expose you to some extremely fatal diseases but can affect your baby too. Obesity increases the risk to miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth, stillbirth and a lot more.

Finishing Remaining Food

Yes, this is the biggest and the most common cause of obesity, especially in women. With the fear of wasting their own cooked food, most of the women try to finish whatever is left over, hence giving obesity an easy way to devour them completely. Excessive unnecessary eating leads to the collection of fats and calories in the body. Not just this, the in between hunger pangs and food cravings also makes them eat more than needed, paving way for extra carbs.

These are the 7 leading causes of weight gain and obesity that portray how risky and harmful this problem has become, especially among women. If you fall under any of these categories, don’t wait till the situation becomes beyond control.
Smell the coffee before it gets cold!

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
chat_icon

Ask a free question

Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

posted anonymously
doctor

Book appointment with top doctors for Gaining Weight treatment

View fees, clinc timings and reviews
doctor

Treatment Enquiry

Get treatment cost, find best hospital/clinics and know other details