Excess weight increases your chances of having several diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and some certain forms of cancer. It is important to know what can lead to weight gain so that it can be controlled on time.
1. Alcohol
When consumed moderately, alcohol can be beneficial to your heart. It can help to reduce the risk of developing strokes and heart disease. However, increased alcohol consumption causes liver problems, high blood pressure and heart muscle damage. Alcohol has been known to reduce the rate at which fat is burnt off. It also contains a high amount of calories, thereby leading to excessive weight gain.
2. Menopause
Hormonal fluctuations that occur during menopause increases the chances of weight gain, especially in the abdominal region. Aging can also cause you to gain weight because of loss of muscle mass, decreasing energy usage and increase in fat levels in the body. Exercising to build muscle and maintaining a healthy diet is a good way to combat weight gain caused by menopause.
3. Stress
When you are stressed up, your body produces a large amount of a hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol might lead to weight gain because it leads to increase in secretion of insulin which makes you crave for junk foods.
4. Genetics
Genes can make an individual more susceptible to weight gain especially when combined with factors such as inactivity and consumption of unhealthy foods. The genes that code for hormone leptin which regulates weight by preventing excess food intake are abnormal, causing leptin resistance.
5. Low fiber and protein diet
High protein and fiber levels increase your satiety levels and reduce absorption of certain types of calorie rich foods. Foods like broccoli, peas, artichokes, fish, and eggs are rich in proteins and soluble fibers.
6. Increase in consumption of saturated fats
Try to keep intake of these unhealthy fats to the barest minimum. Foods like butter and potato chips that contain a high amount of these unsaturated fats, are high in calories and also cause increased production of low density lipoproteins, which are the bad type of cholesterol. Eat more foods such as almonds and avocados with are rich in unsaturated fats that have numerous health benefits.
7. Inactivity
People who exercise or do jobs where they have to be active have no problem with maintaining normal weight because as your body expends more energy, you lose weight. Inactive lifestyles have an opposite effect on weight.
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