In my closet, there is a stack of jeans two feet tall. It is not because I am a hoarder (promise). It is because my weight fluctuates so much that I have four different sizes of jeans. How is that even a thing? Well, turns out there are a lot of reasons for weight gain,1 and they don't all have to do with what you eat. Here are a few things that can affect your weight (and how diet modifications can improve the balance):
Medical Conditions
It is important to note that there are a number of medical conditions which cause weight gain2 and should be addressed with a healthcare professional. Some of these involve side effects of medications and should be candidly discussed with the prescribing physician. If you have tried diet and exercise but continue gaining weight, it is important to seek consultation.
Even in cases when weight gain is due to a medical condition, modifications to diet may alleviate the negative impact. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition which is painful, may cause infertility, and is often associated with weight gain. Changes in hormone levels make it incredibly difficult to burn fat with this condition.
For conditions such as this, the keto diet is an effective tool for weight management. The keto diet causes the body to rely on fat rather than glucose for its primary source of energy, allowing ketosis to counteract the impact of PCOS.
Stress
Stress is unavoidable, but the weight gain it carries is negotiable. Stress triggers the biological version of fight or flight. In preparation for a worst-case scenario, the body stores fat. This makes it incredibly difficult to lose or maintain weight.
If you are struggling with stress and weight balance, adopting a keto diet may alleviate your symptoms. The keto diet has long been used in treating epilepsy and shows promise as a mood-stabilizing diet. Because the diet allows the body to adapt and burn fat for energy, it naturally counteracts the impact of stress.
Sleep (or lack thereof)
My mother may never forgive my sleeping habits. I was the child who slept only a few hours a night and drove everyone around me crazy. (Still do, actually.) But as I have grown older and my metabolism has slowed, I am able to see the tangible impact of poor sleep habits on weight.
Similar to stress, the body adapts to longer days and unpredictable eating habits by messing with your hormones. This imbalance creates a chain reaction that affects how your mind, body, and weight function. While adopting a low-carb diet may not help your late-night study habits or prevent you from binge-watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at 2 am, it can provide the consistency your body needs for balance.
Life
The stack of jeans in my closet is an ever-present reminder that life is unpredictable. Being prepared helps. Knowing your body, learning dieting skills, and maintaining a healthy balance is a life long journey. And sometimes, it helps to read a guide to weight management.
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
- Parenting and Language: Sugar - January 29, 2019
- Beyond Diet: Reasons For Weight Gain - January 24, 2019
- Where Every Diet Should Begin: At Home - January 15, 2019
