Trying to lose weight is always difficult and the first step is identifying the things that are causing weight gain. But sometimes, the scales seem to be going up even though you’re eating well and exercising. It’s so frustrating when you think that you’re doing everything right but you just can’t seem to shift that excess weight. The reason that this happens is that, while they’re important, diet and exercise aren’t the only factors involved in weight gain. There are all sorts of reasons why you might be struggling to lose weight and you probably never considered most of them. These are the hidden reasons why you’re gaining weight.
Mental Health Problems
The sheer scale of mental health issues is only now revealing itself. Better diagnosis and more open conversations about mental health issues have shed light on just how many people are suffering from these conditions. There are all sorts of negative effects of mental health problems but one that we don’t always consider is weight gain. Studies show that people with depression are more likely to gain weight. This is often because you’re more likely to make bad choices about what you eat and you’re also less likely to exercise due to a lack of energy. If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition and you’re taking medication for it, that can make you gain weight as well.
If you are suffering from a mental health issue, it’s important that you watch what you’re eating and swap out the bad stuff for better alternatives. Eating better food will improve your weight and it’ll also help you to manage feelings of depression and anxiety a lot better. It’s also worth talking to your doctor about the side effects of any medication you’re taking so you can work out whether that might be the problem.
Other Medication
Medication for mental health problems aren’t the only ones that can cause weight gain. If you’re taking birth control, blood pressure medication, painkillers or pretty much any other medication, you’re at risk of weight gain. Everybody reacts differently to these medications so if you’re taking any kind of medication on a regular basis, they could be the cause of your weight gain. The best thing to do is speak with your doctor and see whether they think the medication could be the problem. If it is, you might be able to switch to an alternative that doesn’t have as many side effects.
Hormone Imbalance
As we get older, various environmental factors can cause hormone imbalance in our bodies. This imbalance can have all sorts of different side effects ranging from lack of energy and concentration to hair loss, but it can also cause you to gain weight quite rapidly. If you think this may be the problem, there is something you can do about it. This website has lots of good information on the impact of hormone imbalance on your body as well as advice on how to deal with it. You can get hormone replacement therapies to redress the balance and reduce some of the negative side effects of hormone imbalance. If you’re gaining weight rapidly and you can’t identify any other lifestyle factors that could be causing it, it’s worth getting yourself tested and considering hormone replacement therapy.
Nutrient Deficiency
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When you’re dieting, you’ve got to be careful that you’re still giving your body all of the nutrients that it needs. A big mistake people often make is cutting down the amount of food that they’re eating but not adjusting their diet to ensure they’re eating enough vitamins and minerals. If you’re lacking in certain nutrients, it can actually make you more likely to gain weight, even if you’re eating fewer calories. Magnesium and Vitamin D are both big ones. Having a lack of those nutrients can make your metabolism a lot slower, which makes you more likely to put weight on. You might also experience low energy levels which make it a lot harder to keep up with a good exercise routine. Iron deficiency is another problem which saps your energy and impacts exercise. You need to have another look at your diet and make sure you’re eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that have all of the nutrients that your body needs. If you’re still struggling, you can take supplements to boost the levels of the nutrients that you’re lacking but be careful. Having too much of certain things like Vitamin D is just as bad as having too little because it can cause kidney stones. If you’re going to start taking supplements, consult your doctor to work out a safe dosage.
The other general issue with nutrient deficiencies is that you will constantly feel hungry. Feelings of hunger are your body’s way of telling you that it needs vitamins and nutrients. If you eat a load of food that doesn’t have much nutritional value, you’ll soon feel hungry again because your body still doesn’t have what it needs. Eating less isn’t enough to lose weight, you also need to make sure you’re eating the right stuff.
Digestive Problems
When you eat food, you need your body to break it down and get rid of any waste as soon as possible. If your digestive system is not working properly, you’ll gain more weight. There are a lot of reasons why you might have digestive problems; again, it could be because of medication that you’re taking but it could also be dehydration or a lack of fiber. There are medications that will help your digestive system along but you should use that as a last resort. Check with your doctor about medications first. Then keep track of how much water you’re drinking to see if you’re getting enough. Finally, make sure that you’re getting a good amount of fiber in your diet. If you’ve done all of that and you’re still having problems, then you should speak to your doctor about medication that might help.
Sometimes, weight gain is a result of poor lifestyle choices. But if you’ve sorted your diet and exercise regime and you’re still struggling to lose weight, check these hidden causes of weight gain.