Weight gain isn’t solely influenced by physical activity and diet; it can also be due to hormonal imbalances, mood disorders, or other unnoticed physiological changes. Consulting a doctor is crucial to determine the underlying causes, but in the meantime, consider various factors that might be contributing to the weight increase.

1. Diet rich in processed foods

If you begin consuming more highly processed foods like cereals, fast food, and frozen meals, which are packed with harmful ingredients such as sugars, preservatives, and unhealthy fats, you are likely to gain weight rapidly. These foods are typically calorie-dense but lack essential nutrients like protein and fiber that help maintain a sense of fullness. Regularly indulging in sugary drinks, sweets, cakes, soft drinks, ice cream, and biscuits not only contributes to weight gain but also increases the risk of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

2. Hypothyroidism

In addition to noticing that your jeans are tighter, have you noticed other changes in your body – such as tiredness, drier skin or thinner hair? These are all signs of hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland, which is butterfly-shaped and located in the neck, does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Your thyroid is a kind of master gland that controls many of the body’s functions, so when it isn’t working right, symptoms appear throughout your system.

One of the main functions of the thyroid is to control the body’s entire metabolism. It does this through the production of two hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime, according to the American Thyroid Association. Other symptoms to look out for are muscle weakness, constant feeling of cold, bloating and constipation. If the diagnosis is hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe an oral thyroid hormone substitute, which can relieve symptoms, including weight loss, within weeks.

3. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is another condition caused by out-of-whack hormones. This endocrine disorder is characterized by an imbalance in the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone (women also produce testosterone, although in much smaller quantities than men). This imbalance leads to irregular periods, acne and even facial hair growth (hirsutism).

This disorder, which affects one in ten women of reproductive age, also disrupts the way the body uses insulin – the hormone responsible for converting carbohydrates into energy. Yes, you guessed it, that means weight gain. When your body becomes insulin resistant, the sugars and starches you consume are stored as fat instead of being turned into fuel.

Although there is no cure for PCOS, women who have it can manage their symptoms with lifestyle changes and medication. Your doctor will help you find the method that is right for you.

4. Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety

Dealing with feelings of anxiety or sadness by chewing without really thinking about what we are eating is something that almost all of us do at one time or another. But any of these mood disorders can make overeating a regular coping or compensating mechanism. An example: after opening a bag of chips and eating four or five handfuls, you are no longer tasting the chips, your taste buds are completely saturated with the flavor, but you continue eating.

Depression and anxiety can cause fatigue, irritability and lack of focus. All three can get in the way when you exercise or cause you to abandon the gym altogether. Result: the kilos increase. Reflect on your mood over the past few weeks. If you always feel bad about yourself, nervous, uninterested in things you used to enjoy, or are having trouble sleeping, consider seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist. These professionals can help you figure out what’s going on and, with proper treatment, help you resolve a number of things, including trying to lose those extra pounds.

5. Perimenopause and menopause

Generally, the five years before menopause partially affect women, depending on genetics. One way to get an idea of ​​how her body will change during perimenopause – and then menopause itself – is to ask your mother what changes she has noticed in herself. Although her experience may be different from yours, there’s a good chance it will be similar – so if she started gaining weight at this point in her life, it could be the explanation for her weight change.

Once again, hormones are to blame for the extra pounds. The rapid reduction in the amount of hormones present in the body unbalances it very quickly. Lifestyle changes can help, so talk to your gynecologist.

6. Medicines

Before you start taking any new medication, whether or not you need a prescription, ask your doctor if extra pounds are a possible side effect. Psychiatric medications, especially for depression and bipolar disorder, commonly cause weight gain. They act centrally in the brain and although they are intended to lessen your depression, they can increase your desire to eat.

Medications that combat high blood pressure can also cause extra weight. Another culprit is insulin, a frustrating side effect for people struggling with diabetes — because maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to managing the disease. Staying active and following a strict eating plan can help you take insulin without adding pounds.

7. Insomnia

If you go to work after only four hours of sleep, you’ll probably eat and drink to give yourself energy so you can stay awake during the day. Why does tiredness cause hunger? According to doctors, lack of sleep disrupts hunger-regulating hormones. Levels of ghrelin, the hormone that tells the body it’s time to eat, increase after a restless night. At the same time, leptin, which has been called the satiety hormone, can plummet. Combine the effects of the two hormones and it’s no wonder your belt feels tight.

Sleep deprivation can also affect decision making. Let’s say you can eat a banana or a cookie (or cracker). When you are tired, you become more impulsive and this impulsiveness can lead you to choose the cookie (or cookie). A 2018 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that sleeping well can mean consuming up to 10 grams less sugar throughout the day. That’s a great reason to invest in a good night’s sleep, isn’t it?