Weight gain

What is important to know

A person’s weight depends on many factors, and its change is not always associated only with the amount of food eaten.

In some depressive conditions, appetite may increase, cravings for higher-calorie foods may increase, and physical activity may decrease at the same time. Sometimes a person begins to use food more often to reduce anxiety, boredom, loneliness or emotional stress.

Body weight can also be affected by chronic lack of sleep, hormonal and metabolic changes, certain physical diseases and medications.

It is especially important to consider the possibility of fluid retention. A rapid increase in body weight over a short period is sometimes associated not with an increase in adipose tissue, but with edema and requires a medical examination.

How weight gain may manifest itself

A person may notice that:

body weight increases gradually or rapidly;

clothes become tighter;

increased appetite or increased portions;

snacking occurs more often;

there was a pronounced craving for sweet or high-calorie foods;

food is more often used to regulate emotions;

the level of physical activity has decreased;

it has become more difficult to control the amount of food eaten;

swelling appeared;

Weight gain began after a new medication was prescribed.

What to pay attention to

How long ago did the weight start to increase?

How quickly changes occur.

Have your appetite, portion sizes and frequency of meals changed?

Have episodes of overeating or feeling out of control while eating.

Has your physical activity decreased?

Has the duration and quality of sleep changed?

Is there a depressed mood, anxiety, apathy or loss of interest?

Whether the weight gain coincided with severe stress or significant lifestyle changes.

Did it start after a new medication was prescribed or its dosage changed?

Is there swelling of the legs or face, shortness of breath, or a feeling of rapid increase in body volume.

Are you experiencing severe fatigue, chilliness, constipation, or other physical symptoms?

Is there constant thirst, frequent urination, or other metabolic changes?

How much weight changes affect physical well-being and quality of life.

What can help

It is useful to observe for some time not only the number on the scale, but also changes in appetite, diet, sleep, physical activity and emotional state.

Eating regularly, getting enough sleep, and getting enough physical activity can help you maintain a more stable weight.

If overeating is related to stress or emotion, it is helpful to monitor situations in which the desire to eat without expressing physical hunger arises, and gradually expand the ways of emotional regulation.

At the same time, strict diets and severe dietary restrictions can increase hunger and provoke repeated episodes of overeating.

If weight gain began after the prescription of the drug, you should not discontinue treatment on your own. Possible weight changes should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed the drug.

When to ask for help

Contact your doctor if your weight increases quickly, continues to increase for no apparent reason, or is accompanied by other significant changes in how you feel.

It is especially important to undergo an examination if swelling, shortness of breath, severe weakness, or significant hormonal or metabolic symptoms occur simultaneously.

If weight gain is accompanied by episodes of uncontrollable overeating, severe feelings of guilt after eating, severe dietary restrictions, vomiting or other compensatory actions, it is worth contacting a specialist with experience in working with eating disorders.

If weight changes occur in the context of persistent depression, anxiety, apathy, or other significant changes in mental status, evaluation by a mental health professional is also helpful.