The reason for weight gain isn’t all the time a mystery. For example, you might find that you just’re eating more and exercising less, a strong combo that usually ends in extra kilos. But sometimes the rationale isn’t so obvious. And you might not concentrate on many other aspects that may result in weight gain.
Age-related causes
Here are other age-related changes that may affect weight.
Chronic stress. As we age, stress is harder to regulate. And if you happen to’re continuously stressed, you’ll have persistently high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One function of cortisol is to assist the body replenish energy stores. In some people, it might promote weight gain by not directly increasing appetite (because the body thinks it needs energy) and increasing unused energy stores as fat. “But mostly, stress leads to compulsive behaviors, such as eating ‘comfort’ foods, which are often loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, extra calories and salt,” says Dr. Upwin.
Poor sleep. Age-related changes affect our ability to sleep well. “If you’re a chronic ‘short sleeper,’ getting six hours or less each night, it can affect hormones that regulate appetite. Short sleep is associated with higher levels of hormones that make us hungry, lower levels of hormones that tell us we’re full, and higher levels of cortisol,” says Dr. Apovian.
Sex hormone changes. Older men and ladies experience a decline in certain sex hormones. In women, low estrogen levels are related to sleep problems and increased body fat. In men, low testosterone levels are related to low muscle mass.
Basic conditions
Weight gain, especially if it’s latest, can signal quite a few health conditions. For example, someone with heart failure may experience weight gain from fluid retention—which can manifest as swelling within the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen. “This will likely be accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue or shortness of breath,” says Dr. Upwin.
Other underlying conditions related to weight gain include:
- Diabetes
- Certain kidney diseases
- Sleep apnea (stopped respiratory during sleep)
- Thyroid problems.
Side effects of medicines
Taking certain medications repeatedly can result in weight gain. Some medications, akin to prednisone, could cause you to retain fluid and gain weight.
And many drugs affect brain chemicals that control appetite, which might make you hungrier than usual, so that you eat more and gain weight. Examples are included.
- Antidepressants akin to paroxetine (Paxil) or phenelzine (Nardel)
- Antihistamines that contain the ingredient diphenhydramine (the energetic ingredient in Benadryl)
- Antipsychotics akin to clozapine (Clozaril) or olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Beta blockers akin to the drugs atenolol (Tenormin) or metoprolol (Lopressor)
- Sleep aids that contain the drug diphenhydramine, akin to Sominex, Unisom SleepGels, or ZzzQuil.
Other possible causes
Some possible causes of weight gain usually are not yet well understood and are currently being studied.
Another suspected think about weight gain is the population of microbes that live in your gut (their genes are called your microbiome). Considerable evidence suggests that gut microbes can affect appetite, metabolism, blood sugar and fat storage. The strongest support comes from animal studies. In humans, the evidence is less clear.
“Studies have shown that obese people have different gut microbes than lean people,” explains Dr. Upwin.
“But we don’t know if that causes obesity in people. It could be that people who are genetically programmed to gain weight have a specific microbiome,” she notes. “Or it could be that obese people are eating differently than lean people, which could change the microbiome. We need more research to get better answers.”
What must you do?
Any recent or excessive weight gain warrants a visit to your doctor, who can look for brand spanking new underlying conditions and see in case your medications are affecting your weight. It is very important to maintain these two elements of health under control.
It may help to make an appointment with a dietitian to find out the right calorie intake in your current needs.
In addition, Dr. Upwin says the most effective strategy to manage weight as you age is to live a healthy lifestyle: eat a eating regimen wealthy in fruits, vegetables, legumes, limited amounts of whole grains and starchy vegetables, and lots of lean protein to assist construct muscle; Avoid eating late at night; Getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night; doing brisk exercise every single day for a minimum of 20 minutes; and strength training a minimum of twice per week. “You can rebuild muscle, but controlling weight requires a combination of healthy lifestyle habits,” says Dr. Upwin.
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