Abnormal Weight Gain: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Diseases that cause weight gain by increasing tissue (such as fat):

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disorders (E00-E90).

  • Obesity (overweight)
  • Cushing’s syndrome – disease caused by an excess of glucocorticoids.
  • Hyperalimentation (overeating)
  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
  • Menopause (menopause in women)
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (synonyms: PCOS; polycystic ovary syndrome; polycystic ovary syndrome; polycystic ovary syndrome; polycystic ovary syndrome; polycystic ovaries; polycystic ovary disease; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO syndrome); polycystic ovary syndrome; Stein-Leventhal syndrome; ICD-10 E28. 2: Polycystic ovary syndrome) – symptom complex characterized by hormonal dysfunction of the ovaries (ovaries).

Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).

  • Hormone-producing pituitary tumors – neoplasms in the area of the pituitary gland that produce hormones.
  • Insulinoma – in the majority of cases benign neoplasm in the area of the pancreas (pancreas).
  • Tumors leading to a hypothalamic lesion (hypothalamus is part of the diencephalon (interbrain) and serves as the top regulatory center)

Psyche – Nervous System (F00-F99; G00-G99).

  • Depression
  • Stress/severe stress

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

  • Ascites (abdominal fluid)

Medication

Further

  • Alcohol excess
  • Limitation of mobility due to physical and mental reasons (e.g., apoplexy/stroke)
  • Pregnancy

Diseases that cause weight gain due to edema (eg.B. heart failure/cardiac insufficiency, renal failure, liver failure) lead to – see under differential diagnosis to edema.