Causes and Risk Factors of Gaining More Weight

Losing weight can be difficult for even the most diligent of people. Weight loss is likely to be more complex than calories consumed versus calories burned. Factors such as as prescription medications and lifestyle habits can actually cause weight gain. People need to understand these risks and find ways to mitigate and/or control them when possible.

Medications

• Physicians are increasingly aware of the link between some prescription medications and potential weight gain. According to the St. Petersburg Times, some doctors have even altered their practices to help patients face the challenge of prescriptions and added pounds. Diabetes drugs have shown to cause weight gain in some, but not all, patients. Other medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure, arthritis and depression, are also associated with weight gain. Speaking to a doctor about alternative prescriptions is one way to stop adding pounds.

Diet Sodas

• Many people choose diet sodas when trying to lose weight. Too much of these beverages, however, can have the opposite effect and lead to weight gain. Studies reveal that people who regularly drink diet sodas may be susceptible to metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Researchers at Purdue University speculate this is the result of the body's connection between taste and calorie usage. The former dictates how the body should use calories from a particular food, but diet sodas often have no calories. This can interfere with body signals and thus skew how many calories it thinks it needs. Doctors advise limiting diet sodas to one per day as a way to avoid this scenario.

Stress

• People under stress often seek solace from food, a ritual known as emotional eating. Comfort food is usually high in sugar and fat, which can lead to weight gain in and of itself. In addition, stressful periods usually leave little time for exercise. Research suggests the link between stress and weight gain may actually be physiologically related. Trial studies involving mice at Georgetown University Medical Center reveal stress can lead to weight gain even when calories do not increase. Researchers suspect this may be the result of an enzyme stimulated during stress, which in turn causes fat to be stored in the abdomen. Doctors recommend that people use exercise, coupled with relaxation techniques like meditation, to reduce stress.

Environmental Chemicals

• The scientific term for chemicals that interfere with metabolism-regulating hormones is "obesogens." Obesogens are mistakenly identified by the body as hormones and may alter the body even in minute concentrations. Several studies have identified links between man-made chemicals and weight gain. Bisphenol A, for example, is a synthetic estrogen commonly used in plastics, the lining of food containers and drink cans. This can leach into foods and, in laboratory rats, has shown to cause weight gain. Phthalates are common chemicals found in a variety of products, including fragrances. One study revealed that adult men with significant exposure to phthalates had excessive belly fat. Pesticides have also shown to cause weight gain, and people are advised to avoid using insect and weed killers around the home. Foods with high pesticide residues should also be avoided.

Sleeping Habits

• In the February 2010 issue of the journal SLEEP, a study was published revealing both short and long sleep durations can lead to weight gain in men. Short durations are defined as less than six hours per night, while long durations are more than nine hours per night. As revealed by the study, the greatest risk comes from sleeping less than five hours per night, as men in this group were almost twice as likely to gain weight compared to those who received seven to eight hours of sleep. Two possible explanations are provided for this connection, one being that insufficient sleep influences the secretion of some hormones. When ghrelin and leptin, hormones that govern feelings of hunger and satisfaction, are interfered with, people tend to eat more and feel less full afterward. The co-existence of depression may be another explanation, as this often causes sleep loss and, in some cases, oversleeping.