In general, weight gain is often associated with excessive consumption of calories that is not matched by the effort to burn (calories) through sports and other activities.
However, in some cases, weight gain can be caused by certain health conditions. As quoted from the Ridgmount page, here are some medical reasons that can increase weight.
Hypothyroidism
The first medical condition that can be the reason for weight gain is hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. This occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which actually plays a central role in regulating the body's metabolism.
Although an underactive thyroid is common in all ages and genders, it is most common in older women. Without enough thyroid hormone, the body's metabolism will slow down, which can lead to weight gain.
Diabetes Treatment
For patients undergoing diabetes treatment, weight gain can be one of the most common side effects. This is due to the influence of insulin used to manage diabetes.
aging
It turns out that aging can also cause weight gain, you know. Conditions that are getting older make a person lose a small amount of muscle in his body. As you know, muscle is an efficient calorie burner.
So, the loss of muscle mass means it will reduce the number of calories that can be burned. The potential for weight gain increases even more when the amount of food and drink is the same as usual but is less physically active.
Steroid Treatment
Steroid treatment can also increase weight. This happens because patients who take tablets for steroids, namely corticosteroids in the long term can have an increased appetite.
This then causes body gain. The higher the dose and the longer you take it, the more likely it is that you will gain weight. Steroids will make a person feel hungry and affect the area of the brain that controls hunger and satiety.
Fatigue
Did you know that fatigue is also a medical condition that can cause weight gain. The fatigue referred to here is related to a lack of sleep. Several studies have shown that people who sleep less than 7 hours a day are more likely to be overweight than those who sleep 9 hours or more.
While it's not clear why, one theory is that sleep deprivation reduces levels of leptin, the chemical that makes you feel full. In contrast, lack of sleep stimulates levels of ghrelin, a hunger-stimulating hormone.