Weight gain

One happens in healthy people Weight gain only if more calories are ingested from food than consumed by the body and exercise. But also in the context of various illnesses it can lead to an abnormal weight gain. 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 there is overeating and inadequate movement. In the long term, excessive calorie intake that the body does not use appropriately can lead to obesity, popularly known as obesity or obesity. In addition to excessive calorie 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.

An increase in weight is not always immediately noticeable. Most of those affected only realize after months or even years that they have gained weight. Weight gain can also occur through muscle training or weight training (bodybuilding).

causes

One of the causes of weight gain can be pregnancy because as the child grows, so does the mother's weight. This is normal.

However, it is rather unknown that the use of certain medications, especially psychotropic drugs, can have a negative effect on weight. This fact is known with many antidepressants, but also with anti-inflammatory drugs such as cortisone. It is often very difficult for those affected to keep their body weight constant, as many drugs change both the feeling of hunger and metabolic processes.

Edema can also be another cause of increasing body weight. Edema is a build up of water in the body that needs treatment. Often a heart failure is hidden behind it.

What many athletes forget: If the scale shows more, then they have not necessarily gained weight, but the body converts fat into muscle mass. But muscles weigh more than fat.

In rare cases there is a malfunction of the thyroid gland. With increasing age, weight gain can also occur as the metabolism slows down and seniors are often restricted in their freedom of movement.

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Diseases with this symptom

• Hypothyroidism
• Heart failure
• Myocarditis

• Progressive systemic scleroderma
• Right heart failure
• Cushing Syndrome

• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Inflammation of the kidneys
• Kidney weakness

Complications

Various complications can arise with weight gain. Every kilo too much must be supplied with nutrients and carried by the person concerned. This fact stresses the entire organism.

The cardiovascular system is stressed by increased weight. The heart constantly has to work extra to ensure that the fatty tissue receives enough blood. A large amount of sodium and water is retained in the body, which can lead to high blood pressure. In worse cases, it can lead to a heart attack or chronic heart failure.

In addition, when you gain weight, your lungs have to work harder to meet the higher demand for oxygen. This can lead to chronic oxygen deficiency and breathing disorders during sleep.

Weight gain also favors the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Fat metabolism disorders often occur in connection with weight gain, which are associated with an increase in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. These increases endanger the cardiovascular system and there is a risk of gallstones, gout and fatty liver.

Gaining weight 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 loads promote joint wear and tear and can cause chronic pain. Possibly. must be constantly taken pain medication or the person concerned must undergo an operation.

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 goes for weight gain in old age.

An unintentional increase in weight within a short period of time with an adequate or largely unchanged diet and no apparent reason for the weight change should always be clarified by a doctor. Even if a diet simply does not want to lead to weight loss, the reason for the stagnation can be clarified by a doctor if necessary. In the case of an underactive thyroid, 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 large belly. A doctor should also be consulted with additional symptoms such as shortness of breath and shortness of breath as well as loss of appetite and / or lack of drive. In addition, people who are already known to have kidney, liver or heart disease should see their specialist doctor immediately if they suddenly gain weight.

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Treatment & Therapy

Before starting treatment, it is essential to determine the reason for the weight gain. Those seeking advice should record how much they gained weight in which period and show this record to the treating doctor, as he can draw conclusions from it.

If you are overweight due to diet or exercise, you must change your diet and develop an exercise concept in order to avoid obesity. A visit to a nutritionist, who can give valuable tips, is recommended.

If medication is the cause, you should discuss with the respective specialist whether it is possible to reduce the dose or switch to another preparation while restricting eating and exercising more. A blood count can also provide information about whether there is an organic malfunction. This is especially true for thyroid functions and heart failure.

Outlook & forecast

Weight gain can usually always be counteracted. Exceptions here are chronic diseases and metabolic disorders, in which the person concerned can only counteract weight gain with great difficulty. In the case of weight gain, there is usually no direct treatment by a doctor, but the person concerned must do something himself / herself against the gain in weight.

Diets and a generally healthy diet are suitable here. In most cases, the person can stop the weight gain and get back to the desired weight on their own.

Without weight gain treatment, it will not stop and the person's weight will increase. The consequences of being overweight have a negative effect on the circulatory system and the entire body. Obesity is therefore unhealthy and always represents a health burden for the body.

With some diseases, weight gain can only be treated to a limited extent, as there are only a few drugs available for this. The best way to combat weight gain is therefore still a balanced and healthy diet. In most cases, with weight gain, there is a positive course of the disease without consulting a doctor.

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prevention

To prevent weight gain and obesity, the following applies in most cases: healthy, calorie-restricted mixed food in connection with a regular exercise program.

Even people who have put on weight as a result of taking medication also help them change their diet and exercise - albeit sometimes only to a limited extent. Here, before taking the medication, you should literally step on the "eating brake" and implement a movement concept in order to counteract obesity from the start.

Seniors should prevent possible restricted mobility by consistently walking for half an hour each 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 all about muscle building or fitness and slimness? The training methods may need to include more endurance sports.

You can do that yourself

Usually, weight gain is not a chronic disease that needs to be treated by a doctor. The person concerned can fight the weight gain himself and stop it by eating a healthy diet. In most cases, an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise are the causes of weight gain. In order to counteract it, therefore, the diet must be changed and sports activities must be carried out.

Often times, a doctor or 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 illness. However, it rarely happens that the weight gain starts suddenly, in most cases the disease has existed for a long time. Mostly it is the underactive thyroid gland. To stop weight gain, various means from the pharmacy can also be used. Treatment with medication is not possible, however. A doctor should be seen if the weight gain occurs very suddenly and there were no previous weight problems.