What are the reasons for not losing weight?
We all know that the only reasonable way to lose weight is to eat less and get more exercise. However, new research indicates that there is more to it than that.
Many scientists suggest that there may be important factors that lead to weight gain and difficulty getting rid of fat. Perhaps if we were more aware and understanding of these factors, we might be able to
tackle the problem of weight gain more effectively. So what are the issues we should know - and what can we do about it? Try to investigate the reasons why you are not losing weight by asking the following questions.
1- Do you get enough sleep?
Sleep deprivation reduces levels of the protein leptin, which regulates body fat, and increases levels of a hormone called ghrelin, which stimulates food intake. Sleep deprivation increases your
appetite and makes you feel hungry. And if you think that staying awake for longer periods of time burns more calories, you are wrong. In fact, we burn about 65% of our calories while our bodies are resting.
What can you do? Get enough sleep at night (9 hours) and try to organize it so that you go to bed around the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. In this way, you are less likely to disrupt the work of hormones in your body.
2- Is your house too warm?
Our bodies use calories to warm us when we are cold, and to cool us when we are hot. Therefore, the presence of central heating and air conditioning reduces the body's use of calories and thus facilitates weight gain.
What can you do? Don't use central heating a lot. If you feel cold, try exercising to warm up your body.
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3- Is it the drugs?
Some medications have been linked to weight gain. One study on birth control pills found that women who used them gained weight. Antidepressants, beta-blockers, and antihistamines may contribute to weight gain.
What can you do? Consult your doctor and ask him if weight gain is a side effect of the medication you are taking and discuss alternatives with him.
4- Is it because of your age?
Weight increases with age, as women usually gain weight more easily after the age of 35, due to hormonal and metabolic changes, as with the onset of menopause.
What can you do? You should know that as you get older, your body's calorie needs change. Change some of your eating habits and your consumption of fatty foods.
5- Is it your hormones?
Research shows that BMI may be inherited. More importantly, men and women tend to marry people of similar build, which means that if your mother is overweight, your father may have the same problem as well.
What can you do? Being aware of your body's tendency to gain weight means that you need to be careful not to gain it. You should eat low-fat foods, and regularly measure your body weight to ensure that you do not gain weight.
6- Do you feel depressed?
Studies show that men who are depressed lose weight, but women who are depressed gain weight. We all know that feeling happy gives
us an incentive to be and stay fit, and when we feel depressed we don't have the willpower to make healthy eating a priority.
What can you do? Do not take antidepressants, if possible. But if you feel severely depressed, see your doctor, and he may want to refer you to a counsellor.
7- Is the cause of pollutants?
Certain synthetic chemicals in pesticides and some types of plastic have found their way into the human food chain in alarming
amounts. It is feared that such chemicals might interfere with hormones, hampering their ability to regulate body fat.
What can you do? Eat organic produce and peel the skins of fruits and vegetables. Try to limit your consumption of chemicals and additives in your daily food.
8- Do you suffer from a problem with the thyroid gland?
One in 50 women develops hypothyroidism, which means that the thyroid gland stops producing enough hormones to regulate your
body's metabolism. This means that your body is not using the same amount of calories that it was using - and the result, of course, is unwanted weight gain.
What can you do? Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include dry skin, hair loss, fatigue, and joint pain. Consult your doctor and ask him to do a blood test to check the levels of thyroid hormones.
9- Do you suffer from polycystic ovaries?
Women with PCOS have large ovaries that tend to have small cysts on them. 40% of women who suffer from this problem gain weight, while other symptoms include acne, excess body hair, delayed menstruation and difficulty getting pregnant.
What can you do? If you suspect you have PCOS, ask your doctor for a test to be sure.