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What Causes Sudden Gain Of Weight When Under Stress?

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Posted on Mon, 13 Jul 2015
Question: Hello, for the only time in my life besides when I was pregnant I gained 5 lbs in one month... over the course of the year I've gained 10. I removed my Mirena after 5 years just 1 week ago. I eat healthy, have had a lot of stress in that last year, and exercise on a moderate level. I take Natural supplements for adrenal support, vitamin c and occasionally iodine. Please help me this extra weight is a concern and a downer.

I've recently gotten a much better job and removed stresses in my life. I'm concerned I'll continue to grow. I was a strong size 3 now I'm a 6. I have a small bone structure, and I'm 5'5. The extra weight surrounds my belly for the first time and flanks which any extra weight has gone there since my son was born 14 years ago. I've struggled to keep weight on my whole life, so the sudden and continual weight gain over the late year has me concerned and beginning to feel defeated. A friend of mine spent 2 weeks following the way I eat and he lost 2 labs. I didn't budge.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You need to increase your energy output.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Its really good to know that you have a healthy way of living. But let me remark that for weight gain to occur, the total amount of energy intake in the form of food has to be greater than the total energy output throughout the day. For weight gain to have occurred, there has to be a discrepancy somewhere in the chain. It could be that you currently have a lower metabolic rate and hence your body is storing calories instead of spending them. It could be due to deficiency of thyroid hormones and I would suggest you to get your thryroid profile checked. However, I would not recommend intake of iodine even occasionally as most often thyroid deficiency occurs due to autoimmune cause rather than due to iodine deficiency. Mirena could be another factor that could have contributed to your putting on weight. Whatever be the cause, the only reasonable way to address it is by reducing the food intake, distributing the food into small but frequent meals, and increasing the total workout throughout the day. You can try electrical muscle stimulation therapy that is available at many slimming centers. It should augment the effect of exercise and should help you lose the extra pounds.

Hope that helps.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)
Thank you Dr. My thyroid level showed normal after the accident. If I reduce my intake of food any further I won't be taking in enough calories. I do portion control, and more so strictly as of recent. I'll stop taking the iodine.

Are you suspecting an autoimmune disorder versus abnormal hormone ?
What blood work is best to run based on what I've shared with you?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Try the measures I have suggested and I hope that you would get relief.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond earlier. If your thyroid levels are ok, you need not worry about autoimmune thyroiditis. If you had it, it would have shown up in the report. I am not expecting any hormonal problems and so you do not need to worry. In that case, the key lies in your maximizing your energy output. You need to understand the logic. If your food intake is not intake, the body will gradually mobilize its stores and so reducing your food intake would still be beneficial. Follow the steps I have suggested and you would be benefited. I do not think that you need to go for any blood tests. Investigations are done when we need to determine which intervention would be the best. In your case, the intervention remains in the chain of your energy intake vs. energy output.

Hope you understand.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)
Thank you so much Dr. Really. Thank you. All the best to you and yours.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Glad to be of service.

Detailed Answer:
I am glad to be of help. In case you found my answer to be helpful, I would request you to close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.Feel free to ask me back anytime if you have some health related query and I would be happy to help you further.
Wish you all the best.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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What Causes Sudden Gain Of Weight When Under Stress?

Brief Answer: You need to increase your energy output. Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Its really good to know that you have a healthy way of living. But let me remark that for weight gain to occur, the total amount of energy intake in the form of food has to be greater than the total energy output throughout the day. For weight gain to have occurred, there has to be a discrepancy somewhere in the chain. It could be that you currently have a lower metabolic rate and hence your body is storing calories instead of spending them. It could be due to deficiency of thyroid hormones and I would suggest you to get your thryroid profile checked. However, I would not recommend intake of iodine even occasionally as most often thyroid deficiency occurs due to autoimmune cause rather than due to iodine deficiency. Mirena could be another factor that could have contributed to your putting on weight. Whatever be the cause, the only reasonable way to address it is by reducing the food intake, distributing the food into small but frequent meals, and increasing the total workout throughout the day. You can try electrical muscle stimulation therapy that is available at many slimming centers. It should augment the effect of exercise and should help you lose the extra pounds. Hope that helps. Regards