It’s bad enough when weight gain happens slowly, but it can be even more severe if it occurs suddenly. It’s possible that you don’t know why your belt needs to be looser. You were good this holiday season and you didn’t overeat or eat a ton of sugary foods. Regardless, men can put on the pounds quickly if they have an underlying medical condition or a problem with their diet. Do not worry. We can put you on a weight loss program that will work. Let’s talk more about the causes of sudden weight gain below.
Excessive Salt
Your body retains water due to sodium. You will gain weight and feel bloated if you live off of junk food. Aside from the sodium content, the junk food also contains a high fat content. Perhaps you are not a junk food junkie, but you did go out to eat quite a bit over the holiday season. Even though you were careful, restaurant food contains high amounts of sodium.
Low Potassium
Potassium counteracts sodium’s effects. You will gain weight if you eat a low-potassium diet. For males over 19 years old, the recommended daily intake is 3,400 mg. Bananas, legumes, beans, lentils, and dried fruits are all rich in potassium.
New Medications
It’s possible that your new medication caused you to suddenly gain weight. Anti-depressants and beta-blockers are the most commonly prescribed medicines that can cause weight gain. However, you can also gain weight by taking antihistamines and painkillers as well as steroids.
Exceeding Consumption
You could have gained weight by drinking or eating too much. Your diet may also have increased your intake of carbohydrates without you realizing. You should take a hard look at the amount of food and alcohol that you consume each day. Look to reduce or cut down on your carbohydrate intake.
Natural Gain
It is quite normal to gain weight even after losing weight. This is what your body does naturally. It doesn’t matter what diet or exercise regimen you follow. It can be frustrating to lose weight only to gain the pounds back faster than you thought.
Endocrine Disorders
Weight gain can be caused by an endocrine disorder such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism. Cushing’s disease may also cause weight gain. Low levels of growth hormone or testosterone can also cause weight gain. This happens as we get older.
We can help. To schedule an appointment, call us today. To determine if there is an underlying condition causing sudden weight gain, we will check your thyroid and hormone levels.
