5 causes of weight gain in women

Women are prone to weight gain especially when they are above 40’s and are mothers. Most women are prone accumulate visceral fat on their abdomen or hips and thighs. This makes them to struggle to lose the weight gained. sometimes, it is quite difficulty to shed.

1. ENERGY IMBALANCE

Energy imbalance causes the body to store fat. Energy imbalances can cause overweight and obesity. An energy imbalance means that your energy IN does not equal your energy OUT. This energy is measured in calories.

Energy IN is the amount of calories you get from food and drinks.

Energy OUT is the amount of calories that your body uses for vital activities of the body. These vital activities include

• breathing,
• digesting,
• being physically active, and
• regulating body temperature.

Weight Gain

Weight Gain develop over time when you take in more calories than you use. weight gain occurs when energy IN is more than your energy OUT. This type of energy imbalance causes your body to store fat.

Your body uses certain nutrients such as carbohydrates or sugars, proteins, and fats from the foods you eat to:

• Make energy for immediate use to power routine daily body functions and physical activity.
• Store energy for future use by your body.
• Sugars are stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles.
• Fats are stored mainly as triglyceride in fat tissue.

The amount of energy that your body gets from the food you eat depends

• on the type of foods you eat,
• how the food is prepared, and
• how long it has been since the last meal.

2. Lack of physical activity

Lack of physical activity due to high amounts of TV, computer, videogame or other screen usage has been associated with a high body mass index. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as being physically active and reducing screen time, can help you aim for a healthy weight.

3.Unhealthy eating behaviors

Some unhealthy eating behaviors can increase your risk for weight gain.

• Eating more calories than you use. The amount of calories you need will vary based on your sex, age, and physical activity level.  
• Eating too much saturated and trans fats
• Eating foods high in added sugars

4.Not enough sleep

Many studies have shown that people who do not get enough sleep have a high Body Mass Index( BMI). Some other studies have deduced a relationship between sleep and the way our bodies use nutrients for energy. The study also show how lack of sleep can affect hormones that control hunger urges.

5. High amounts of stress

There are two types of stress that human beings pass through. There are

• Acute stress and

• Chronic stress.
• Both Chronic and acute stress affect the brain. Stress trigger the production of hormones, such as cortisol. Cortisol control our energy balances and hunger urges.
• Acute stress can trigger hormone changes that make you not want to eat.
• If the stress becomes chronic, hormone changes can make you eat more and store more fat.

In conclusion, these factors are responsible for weight gain and if adequately monitored , weight gain is kept at bay.

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