In healthy people, weight gain only takes place when more calories are ingested through food than are consumed by the body and through exercise. However, pathological weight gain can also occur as a result in the context of various diseases. Therefore, in the case of unnatural weight changes, a doctor should always be consulted to determine the causes.
What does weight gain mean?
Weight gain usually occurs when overeating is present with a lack of compensatory exercise. Weight gain usually occurs when overeating is present with a lack of compensatory exercise. In the long term, excessive caloric intake that is not appropriately consumed by the body can lead to obesity, popularly known as adiposity or obesity. In addition to excessive caloric intake, which can lead to a so-called positive energy balance in the body (an excess of calories), other factors are often decisive for weight gain, especially if it occurs relatively suddenly. Weight gain is not always immediately noticeable visually. Most of those affected only realize after months or even years that they have gained weight. Weight gain can also occur as a result of muscle training or weight training (bodybuilding).
Causes
One of the causes of weight gain can be pregnancy, because as the baby grows, the mother’s body weight also increases. This is within the normal range. On the other hand, it is rather unknown that taking certain medications, especially psychotropic drugs, can have a negative effect on weight. This fact is known for many antidepressants, but also for anti-inflammatory drugs such as cortisone. It is often very difficult for those affected to keep their body weight constant, as many medications alter both hunger sensations and metabolic processes. Another cause of increasing body weight can be edema. Edema is a buildup of water in the body that needs to be treated. Often this is due to cardiac insufficiency. What many athletes forget: If the scale shows more, then they have not necessarily gained weight, but the body converts fat into muscle mass. Muscle, however, weighs more than fat. In rare cases, there is a malfunction of the thyroid gland. Weight gain can also occur with increasing age, as metabolism slows down and seniors are often restricted in their movement.
Diseases with this symptom
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart failure
- Heart muscle inflammation
- Progressive systemic scleroderma
- Right heart failure
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Kidney inflammation
- Kidney weakness
Complications
In connection with weight gain, there may be various complications. Every kilo too much must be supplied with nutrients and carried by the affected person. This circumstance puts a strain on the entire organism. The cardiovascular system is stressed by increased weight. The heart must permanently do extra work to ensure that the fatty tissue receives enough blood. A larger amount of sodium and water is retained in the body, which can lead to high blood pressure. In worse cases, this can lead to a heart attack or chronic heart failure. In addition, with weight gain, the lungs have to work harder to meet the higher oxygen demand. Consequently, chronic oxygen deficiency and breathing disorders during sleep may occur. Weight gain also promotes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Often, lipid metabolism disorders associated with weight gain also occur, with increases in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. These elevations endanger the cardiovascular system and there is a risk of gallstones, gout and fatty liver disease. Weight gain also puts stress on the joints. With a strong weight gain, the joints are also overloaded. The lower spine and the hip, knee and ankle joints are particularly affected. The stresses promote joint wear and can cause chronic pain. If necessary, painkillers must be taken permanently or the affected person must undergo surgery.
When should you go to the doctor?
The feel-good weight varies from person to person, but remains stable over a longer period of time with a healthy diet. Smaller fluctuations are harmless and completely normal. The same applies to weight gain in old age. An unintentional increase within a short period of time with an appropriate or largely unchanged diet and no apparent reason for the weight change should in any case be clarified by a doctor. Even if a diet simply does not want to lead to weight reduction, the reason for the stagnation can be clarified by a doctor if necessary. In the case of hypothyroidism, for example, weight loss through dietary measures is usually extremely difficult. If edema (water retention) can also be observed, a doctor must be consulted in any case. This manifests itself in the form of swelling, thick legs or a bulging abdomen. A doctor should also be consulted in the event of additional symptoms such as shortness of breath and shortness of appetite and/or listlessness. In addition, people who are already known to have kidney, liver or heart disease should see their respective treating specialist immediately if they experience sudden weight gain.
Treatment and therapy
Before treatment is initiated, it is essential to determine the reason for the weight gain. People seeking advice should keep a log of how much weight they have gained and over what period of time, and show this log to the treating physician, as he or she can draw conclusions from it. In the case of diet- and exercise-induced obesity, it is essential to change the diet and develop an exercise program to prevent obesity. Among other things, a visit to a nutritionist is recommended here, who can provide valuable tips. If medication is the cause, it should be discussed with the relevant specialist whether it is possible to reduce the dose or switch to a different preparation while at the same time restricting food and increasing exercise. A blood count can also provide information as to whether there is an organically caused malfunction in weight control. This applies especially to thyroid functions and cardiac insufficiency.
Outlook and prognosis
Weight gain can usually always be counteracted. Exceptions here are chronic diseases and disorders of metabolism, in which the affected person can counteract weight gain only with great difficulty. In the case of weight gain, therefore, there is usually no direct treatment by a doctor, but the person concerned must do something himself against the increase in weight. Diets and a generally healthy diet are suitable here. In most cases, the person himself can stop the weight gain and regain the desired weight. Without treatment of the weight gain, it will not stop, so the weight of the person will increase. The consequences of being overweight have a negative effect on the circulatory system and on the entire body. Therefore, being overweight is unhealthy and always represents a health burden for the body. In some diseases, weight gain can only be treated to a limited extent, as there are few medications available for this purpose. Therefore, the best method against weight gain is still a balanced and healthy diet. In most cases, weight gain results in a positive course of the disease without the need to consult a doctor.
Prevention
To prevent weight gain and avoid obesity, in most cases: Healthy, calorie-restricted mixed diet combined with a regular exercise program. Dietary changes and exercise also help people who have gained weight as a result of taking medication – although sometimes only to a limited extent. In this case, the proverbial “eating brake” should be applied even before the medication is taken, and an exercise concept should be implemented to counteract obesity right from the start. Seniors should prevent a possible restriction of movement by consistently going for a walk for half an hour every day. This has been proven to work wonders and preserve mental and physical agility, which in turn protects against weight gain. Athletes, on the other hand, should consider their goal: Is it solely to build muscle or to get fit and lean? Training methods may need to include more endurance exercise.
You can do it yourself
As a rule, weight gain is not a chronic disease, which must be treated by a doctor. The affected person can fight against the weight gain himself and stop it by a healthy diet. In most cases, an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise is the reason for weight gain. Therefore, to counteract it, the diet must be changed and sports activities must be performed. Often a doctor or a nutritionist can also help with the change and give tips on how to stop weight gain. It is not infrequently triggered by stress or depression. In these cases, it is advisable to talk to a psychologist to find out the causes and reasons for the weight gain. However, weight gain can also be due to a chronic disease. However, it rarely occurs that the weight gain starts suddenly, in most cases the disease has existed for a long time. In most cases, it is the underactivity of the thyroid gland. To stop the weight gain, various remedies from the pharmacy can also be used. However, treatment with medication is not possible. A doctor should be consulted if the weight gain is very sudden and there were no weight problems before.