4 Reasons Why You Gain Weight

The reasons why you gain weight can be varied. They can range from a sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits to life changes and hormonal problems.
4 Reasons Why You Gain Weight

Last update: 17 December, 2018

The most important starting point for detecting the causes of weight gain is to understand why it’s happening and base the findings on establishing a plan. This plan will then help you achieve a healthier body weight.

Why do you gain weight?

Hormonal problems require a thorough evaluation by your doctor. You can also list different situations that can generate various changes leading to a gradual or abrupt change in body weight.

In practice, maternity, work, emotional problems, stress or quitting smoking, are some of the reasons why you gain weight.

The main reasons why you gain weight

1. Stress

Undoubtedly, one of the main reasons why an increase in body weight occurs is due to stress. It’s a silent disposition that affects millions of people around the world, both physically and psychologically.

On many occasions, stressful situations generate uncontrollable eating habits, involving high-fat foods and sugars. As a result, sudden weight gain occurs.

Labor, economic or emotional problems are some of the most common causes that generate stress. To compensate and avoid an increase in weight, it’s best to involve some form of physical activity.

This physical activity will serve to burn energy and ease worries. Similarly, if the situation requires it, it’s also advisable to ask for help from a specialist.

2. Stop smoking

Quitting smoking is another common reason why people gain weight. This happens because the ex-smoker uses food to compensate for anxiety over the loss of nicotine.

Woman breaking a cigarette to not gain weight.

In addition, when we quit smoking our base rate metabolism decreases significantly, which is why weight gain is more likely to occur. In fact, several studies show that women who quit smoking, gain an average of ten pounds in the months following.

Despite possible weight gains, quitting smoking is a good decision, as it will bring numerous health benefits. On the other hand, to avoid weight gain, it’s advisable to make several meals a day in advance and with small portions.

In this sense, you can incorporate healthy snacks such as seeds, yogurts, healthy proteins, and others. It’s important to control binge eating, snacking, control the caloric intake of meals and perform some physical activity.

3. The “me” effect

The “me” effect occurs when a person manages to lose weight after a strict diet and shortly after completion, begins to gain weight quickly and uncontrollably. This situation is much more common than is believed and generates significant changes and damage to the metabolism.

It’s best not to go hungry or implement regimes that are restrictive and, instead, include all foods but in a balanced way.

Woman eating unbalanced meal so she gain weight.

Many women and men suffer major changes in their metabolisms from the strict diets to which they subject their bodies. These sudden changes aren’t healthy and it’s precisely for this reason that weight increases are generated without control.

To avoid these side effects, it’s essential not to restrict any food. But simply to integrate them in a more balanced way. This gives more importance to proteins, fruits, and vegetables and reducing the portions of some types of fats and sugars.

4. Hormonal problems

Without a doubt, hormones also play a leading role in changes to body weight. For that reason, many people do not see results despite eating healthy and exercising.

In these cases, it’s important to see a doctor to make an evaluation and determine if there are any hormonal imbalances or any other reason that may contribute to weight gain. Based on this, the specialist will determine the most appropriate treatment and, with this treatment, the patient will begin to make any long-awaited changes.

The reasons why we gain weight are very variable, hence the importance of not comparing ourselves with the experiences of other people. It’s essential to determine the reasons that will lead to change, in order to make a specific plan and achieve the desired objectives of a better lifestyle.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.