Plenty of people do everything the diet books say and still watch the scale creep up. They track calories. They pass on dessert. They try to keep moving. The number rises anyway, and many of them end up blaming themselves.
Doctors increasingly say that is the wrong target for blame. Dr Anshuman Kaushal, who directs robotic GI, minimal access and bariatric surgery at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram, told the Times of India that the old belief that obesity comes only from overeating does not hold up. “Indeed, over-eating leads to gaining extra pounds, but some people suffer from obesity even if their diet seems healthy enough,” he said. “Nowadays, there are many studies proving that stress, lack of sleep and other problems that affect the balance of hormones can lead to being overweight.”
The World Health Organization describes obesity as one of the fastest-growing health concerns worldwide.
Stress and the hunger signal
Stress releases cortisol, a hormone that influences appetite and fat storage. Kaushal said high cortisol raises hunger and pushes people toward high-calorie food. Stress also drives some people to eat to cope with emotional distress, he added, and it saps the motivation to exercise. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says long-term stress can raise cortisol, stimulate appetite and promote inflammation, all of which feed into obesity.
It rarely looks dramatic. Late-night snacking, skipped workouts and exhaustion are how it shows up.
Sleep
Short nights change the hormones that govern appetite. “When people have not had enough sleep, the level of ghrelin increases, and leptin drops,” Kaushal said. “These processes make people eat more food and decrease their activity.” Ghrelin signals hunger and leptin signals fullness, so the person who slept badly is hungrier and less satisfied after eating.
Health testing company Everlab adds that sleep apnea, a common and often undiagnosed condition that fragments sleep, may also contribute to weight gain.
Hormones and medical conditions
Kaushal listed underactive thyroid, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance and the hormonal shifts of menopause. Each can lower the metabolic rate and change where the body stores fat. “Patients with these conditions usually have trouble maintaining their weight, irrespective of any dietary changes,” he said.
Everlab says some medications can do the same, among them certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, beta blockers, corticosteroids and insulin. It also notes that a thyroid reading in the low-normal range on a routine blood test can look fine while still contributing to weight gain.
What doctors suggest
Weight loss plans should include proper nutrition, regular activity, enough sleep and ways to reduce stress, Kaushal said. If weight rises unexpectedly, or lifestyle changes fail to shift it, he advised seeing a doctor to find the cause. For some patients with obesity, he said, GLP-1 drugs have proven effective, and metabolic or bariatric surgery can produce good results and help manage related conditions.
Everlab lists warning signs that need prompt medical attention: a gain of 1 to 1.5 kg in a day or 2 to 3 kg in a week, visible swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen, and trouble breathing, especially when lying down. These can point to heart, kidney or liver problems.
The stigma weighs on people too. Kaushal and the Times of India report both describe how people who struggle with weight often face guilt, anxiety and low confidence, and how society tends to label obesity as laziness. Doctors, the report says, are shifting from asking “Why don’t you eat less?” to asking “What is happening inside the body?”
Consult your doctor for medical advice.
Sources
- Unexplained Weight Gain: 7 Causes Routine Tests Can Overlook
- Not eating too much but still gaining weight? Doctor explains how stress, sleep and hormones could be working against you
