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What Causes Rapid Weight Gain?

by Vinay Rawat Marketing Specialist

Many people around the world experience a change in their body weight. And this change is common. But if a person gains weight in a short time for no specific reason, this could be an indication of various health and kidney-related problems.

In case an increase in weight is not linked with health conditions, common causes include:

Eating more
Less physically active
Water retention in the body due to dehydration or excess salt
Menstrual cycle in females
Slow metabolism
Lack of sleep

If you notice weight gain that is not due to the above cause and affect your quality of life then you should see a doctor.

Below are few causes of rapid weight gain

1) Medicines

Several medicines may be responsible for rapid weight gain. This is considered as a side-effect of those medicines in which a person gains weight rapidly.

Medicines that can increase weight rapidly include some drugs that treat:

High blood pressure
Depression
Seizures

2) Quitting smoking

Quitting tobacco products suddenly is also a reason for rapid weight gain. The reason behind this is nicotine suppresses appetite and suddenly quitting smoking may include stress, which can lead to overeating.

3) Heart failure

Quick weight gain or swelling in various parts of the body can be because of fluid retention and might be an indication of heart failure.

However, note that an individual’s weight typically varies by a couple of pounds throughout a day. If their weight gets back to normal as usual and they don’t have additional symptoms, the temporary increment could be because of normal fluid retention.

In case blood is streaming gradually to and from the heart, it affects the capacity of other significant organs in the body. Thus, liquid gathers in the tissues, which causes weight gain and swelling.

Individuals might notice weight gain with swelling in:

Stomach region
Ankles
Legs
Feet

Different signs of heart failure involve:

Frequent cough
Collection of fluid inside the lungs
Feeling short of breath while resting
Difficulty in sleeping
Loss of hunger

4) Kidney issues

Sudden weight gain or swelling in the body could be an indication of kidney disorder, like nephrotic syndrome or kidney failure, which is harmful to the kidneys.

In case that the kidneys are not working effectively, the body might retain liquid, which results in weight gain. Harmed kidneys can’t eliminate waste and liquids from the body appropriately, so these build up in the tissues.

Swelling because of kidney issues generally affects the legs, lower legs, or feet.

Different indications that might indicate problems with the kidneys include:

Less urination
Fatigue
Foamy urine
Headaches
A joint pain muscle cramp
Loss of appetite
Joint pain

5) Thyroid disorder

A thyroid issue called hypothyroidism can slow down the metabolism, which can bring about weight gain. Thyroid issues can likewise cause the body to hold liquid because of the effects of hypothyroidism on the kidneys.

6)Cushing’s syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body creates a lot of cortisol over a period. Cortisol is basically a hormone that empowers the body to respond to stress.

It is uncommon for an individual to develop Cushing’s syndrome without an outside trigger. Cushing’s disorder is commonly a side effect of taking glucocorticoids, which are drugs that can treat conditions like rheumatoid joint pain, asthma, and foundational lupus erythematosus.

Cushing’s syndrome frequently causes weight gain, especially in the following areas of the body:

Neck
Abdomen
Face
Upper back

7) Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a hormonal condition that happens when the pituitary organ delivers a lot of growth hormones.

The primary symptom of acromegaly is an increase in the size of the feet and hands. Individuals might see that their shoes or rings at this point did not fit properly. The tongue, lips, and nose may likewise become enlarged.

When to see a doctor?

If you are experiencing unintentional and rapid weight gain with no defined cause, you should consult with your doctor.

The doctors will ask for the medical history and they may carry out a few tests.

Why does kidney disease cause weight gain?

Only kidneys aren’t affected by kidney disease. It affects the entire body. In the early phase, it can cause weight loss and on the other hand, it can cause weight gain in later stages.

Early kidney disease

In the initial stage of kidney disease, people generally lose body weight. This happens because the disease results in loss of appetite. In this stage, your appetite is affected by chemical compounds in the blood that affect the brain. Many people avoid protein food which results in muscle wasting.

Later kidney disease

If kidney diseases are not treated in the early stage, the kidneys stop functioning and they cannot maintain the fluid level in the body as a result fluid gets accumulated in the body in different parts of the body which ultimately increases the body weight.

How do we help them to Control their Weight?

When you have excess fluid in your body that is the cause of weight gain during kidney failure and dialysis treatment time. You should try to avoid eating excess fluid food or hidden fluid food. Our Ayurvedic kidney specialist doctor and kidney specialist dietitian guide you on how you can control your weight during dialysis treatment.

Even we help you to recover your kidney's last stage of CKD without dialysis treatment or harming your body. We can treat it through Ayurvedic treatment for kidney disease. Book your appointment now.

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