Dr Rajesh Bendre, National Technical Head & Chief Pathologist Apollo Diagnostics.

Gaining weight can be a puzzling problem in women as well as men, particularly when it happens even with a healthy exercise and diet regimen. Though maintaining a balanced and nourishing diet is important for staying in the pink of health, certain hidden medical factors play a role in unexpected weight gain. Opting for tests such as thyroid, glucose tolerance tests, and hormonal panels will give you a reality check and help you determine the cause of weight gain. Take these tests as recommended by the doctor to ensure you maintain an optimum weight with timely intervention.

Currently, a large number of people have become weight conscious and stick to healthy eating habits and exercise routines. “People are going that extra mile to lose weight and achieve the desired result.  Moreover, being a woman, one will struggle with issues such as slow metabolism, food cravings, and hormonal changes from time to time.  Certain factors such as premenstrual syndrome, and menopause daily can cause hormonal imbalance making you pile up those excess kilos. Problems such as thyroid, insulin resistance, stress, low estrogen, and progesterone levels during menses, and high testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can lead to weight gain in women.”

 ‘‘Getting these hormonal tests will help understand the reasons behind weight gain. Hence, experts can come up with a tailor-made treatment plan for women struggling to shed those excess kilos and regain their health. “Thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism cause weight gain in women. The symptoms experienced are sudden weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, and constipation. Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas which regulates fat and carbohydrates in the body. Insulin helps the body to utilize glucose, and a higher amount of insulin hormone can make one gain weight. When one is stressed or sleep deprived, the body releases cortisol hormone. Furthermore, higher level of cortisol present in the body is also the cause behind weight gain mainly in the abdominal region.”

“Even fat cells are a source of estrogen that tend to turn calories into fat and invite obesity. Low levels of progesterone in the body during menopause will cause water retention and bloating and later make your body feel fuller and heavier. Those women who are detected with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(PCOS)  have high levels of Testosterone that are responsible for weight gain, menstrual disorders, growth in facial hair, acne and breakouts, and even infertility. Having higher testosterone can be the reason for weight gain. Testing these hormone levels with guidance from an expert will help to determine the exact cause of weight gain and address it via prompt treatment and lifestyle modifications in the form of a nutritious diet, sleep, exercising, and de-stressing with yoga and meditation. Timely health check-ups are key to managing any health conditions."