What is unexplained weight gain?
Unexplained weight gain refers to an increase in body weight without an obvious cause. There are many potential reasons for mysterious weight gain including hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, and other medical conditions. Tracking your diet, exercise, and symptoms can help identify causes.
Some common causes of unexplained weight gain include:
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and insulin can increase hunger, fluid retention, and fat storage. This frequently happens during perimenopause, menopause, and andropause.
- Thyroid dysfunction: An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows metabolism making weight loss difficult. Hyperthyroidism can also cause weight gain due to increased appetite.
- Medications: Antidepressants, antipsychotics, diabetes medications, and steroids are commonly linked to extra pounds.
- Stress: Chronic stress stimulates the production of cortisol which can increase abdominal fat storage.
- Poor sleep: Not getting enough sleep alters hunger signaling hormones like ghrelin and leptin, reducing feelings of fullness after meals.
- Inflammation: Systemic inflammation or conditions like Celiac disease or chronic inflammation increase cytokines that change metabolism and promote weight gain.
If you are gaining weight rapidly without major lifestyle changes, have abdominal weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, irregular periods, thinning hair or other troubling symptoms, see your doctor for a full evaluation.
Getting to the root cause of hormonal or metabolic imbalances with comprehensive lab testing can help create an effective treatment plan. The expert physicians at Elite Hormone Therapy specialize in customized bioidentical hormone therapy, thyroid treatment, and holistic weight loss programs to help patients lose weight and feel their best again.
Diagnostic options may include:
- Thyroid panel - Checks TSH, T4, T3, and antibodies
- Adrenal profile - Measures cortisol and DHEA-S
- Reproductive hormone panel - Assess estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
- Comprehensive metabolic panel - Evaluate blood sugar, liver, kidney & electrolytes
- Food sensitivity testing - Identify inflammatory reactions
Based on test results, treatment options may include:
- Hormone replacement - Bioidentical hormones to correct imbalances
- Thyroid medication - Levothyroxine, liothyronine
- Diet changes - Elimination diets, anti-inflammatory diet
- Stress reduction - Meditation, yoga, counseling
- Improved sleep hygiene - Behavioral and environmental changes
By getting to the root cause and utilizing natural therapies, the frustrating cause of stubborn weight gain can often be found and corrected. Connect with the professionals at Elite Hormone Therapy today to start your weight loss journey on the path to better health!