Some dysfunctions or pathologies can encourage weight gain. Find out what you need to do to help your metabolism react and combat the accumulation of fat caused by diseases that make you gain weight.
Sedentary lifestyles and a voracious appetite are not always the only factors responsible for the high prevalence of excess weight, which affects millions of people around the world and 57 percent of the national population, or 5.9 million Portuguese. There are also diseases that cause people to put on weight. Often silently, some diseases and dysfunctions alter the functioning of the metabolism, causing unwanted fat to accumulate. Difficult to combat without the right treatment, follow the recommendations of weight management specialist Teresa Branco and learn about the main health problems that can cause you to put on extra pounds.
The main diseases that cause weight gain
Hypothyroidism
- Why does it make us fat?
Hypothyroidism is one of the main diseases that causes weight gain. The thyroid is an endocrine gland whose function is to produce, store and release into the blood the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), which act on almost every cell and help control the functioning of the metabolism, determining the amount of energy used by the body. "People with hypothyroidism produce less thyroid hormones T3 and T4, burn very few calories a day and tend to put on weight. Conversely, in hyperthyroidism, the secretion of these hormones is exaggerated and patients tend to lose weight," explains Teresa Branco, director of TO BE. Clinic by Teresa Branco. - What you can do
Hypothyroidism has no cure, but it can be controlled with medication. However, even after starting treatment, "once the metabolism has been altered, you need to combine treatment with a healthy diet and exercise to get back in shape," says the weight management specialist. In terms of diet, "we know that eating foods rich in iodine (seaweed, shellfish, bivalves, some sea fish such as sardines, sea bream, mackerel and salmon, as well as iodized salt) can help in very specific cases of hypothyroidism. There are even supplements rich in algae, such as kelp, which help to alleviate these problems," says Teresa Branco, who advises against eating foods rich in trans fats, particularly sausages and fried foods, which can cause inflammation of the cells, and suggests a diet rich in vegetables and healthy proteins. Since exposure to the sun is essential for iodine production, "outdoor activities such as swimming, cycling, running or walking should be favored and, when possible, by the sea".
"When we don't get enough sleep, we have the perception that we need more energy than we really need, and we end up compensating for our tiredness with food"
Food intolerances
- Why do they make us fat?
When we talk about diseases that make us put on weight, we can't forget food intolerances. As Teresa Branco explains, "there are food hypersensitivities that can indirectly cause long-term reactions in the body, such as a predisposition to weight gain". She explains: "If you're lactose intolerant, you won't gain weight from drinking milk, but you will have other symptoms that can be very uncomfortable, such as abdominal bloating. If the body is exposed to lactose-containing foods throughout life, this can lead to inflammatory states that end up causing weight gain." - What you can do
"Following a diet that is adjusted to the problem, namely by eliminating the intake of foods that have been identified as causing intolerance, and practicing sports that help strengthen the immune system, such as cardiovascular activities - gymnastics, swimming, aqua aerobics or running - two or three times a week, and walking every day will be essential conditions for keeping the body functioning properly and preventing inflammation in the long term," recommends the specialist.
Sleep disturbances
- Why do they make us fat?
When we talk about diseases that make us put on weight, we can't forget about sleep disorders. Directly or indirectly, people with sleep disorders, such as apnea and primary insomnia or difficulty falling asleep or secondary insomnia, when they wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall asleep, tend to put on weight. As Teresa Branco explains, "when we don't get enough sleep, we have the perception that we need more energy than we really need, and we end up compensating for our tiredness with food. On the other hand, those who don't sleep tend to develop insulin resistance. The metabolism finds it more difficult to process carbohydrates, which leads to greater insulin production and greater difficulty in eliminating fat. This resistance leads to changes in appetite, increasing the desire to consume carbohydrates, processed foods or foods high in sugar." - What you can do
"An adult should sleep between seven and eight hours a night so as not to develop insulin resistance and so as not to tend to compensate for energy deficits by overeating," she says. When you can't sleep, Teresa Branco stresses that "it's essential to seek help from a sleep specialist to identify and treat the reason that's preventing you from sleeping". Regular physical activity and a healthy diet will help to reassure: "In general, people with sleep disorders should exercise in the morning, two or three times a week, and they can even go for a walk in the evening. It's very important that they avoid drinking coffee, certain types of tea, soft drinks, nicotine and other stimulants that aggravate alertness." In order to feel well, the physiologist recommends that you "avoid excessive consumption of sugary foods, which also have a stimulating effect, heavy and spicy meals. Prefer healthy sources of protein, such as lean meats, milk and eggs, vegetables, legumes and nuts".
Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Why do we put on weight?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the diseases that makes you put on weight. "Those who suffer from this endocrine disorder, which mainly affects young women of childbearing age, tend to develop resistance to insulin, a hormone that takes the sugar produced by carbohydrates into the body's cells to be used as a source of energy. In these cases, the body is less able to regulate sugars, causing a tendency to put on weight," explains Teresa Branco, adding: "as they tend to metabolize carbohydrates very poorly and are hyperinsulinemic, i.e. have increased insulin levels, the body transforms excess sugar into fat, resulting in extra weight." - What you can do
"Women with polycystic ovary syndrome should avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, trying to reduce their consumption of sugar-containing foods as much as possible in order to reduce insulin resistance and the onset of diabetes, avoid alcohol, tobacco, refined foods or foods rich in saturated fats." Teresa Branco advises opting for "a diet based on vegetables and legumes rich in vitamins A and E. Physical exercise "is important to reduce abdominal fat and work the muscles, promoting hormonal regulation," she concludes.
Depression, anxiety and stress
In addition to many other serious consequences, these mental and emotional disorders "interfere with excess weight in direct and indirect ways, which is why it is crucial to discover the cause to be treated".
- Why does it make us fat?
"Depression can be caused by hormonal and metabolic changes that inhibit the production of serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of well-being. When these substances are not present in sufficient doses in the body, depression, anxiety and stress tend to appear. The person feels like eating foods rich in sugar, because the body intuitively tries to compensate for hormonal deficiencies by eating foods rich in sugar, which induce the production of these hormones," explains the weight management specialist to Revista Prevenir. - What you can do
Even if the medication is adjusted, continues the specialist, "as there has been a change in metabolism, in order to lose weight it will be necessary to combine physical exercise with a balanced diet, rich in vegetables, healthy proteins, such as lean meats, fish, eggs and avocado, and low in trans fats and sugars". To combat the lack of motivation typical of depressive states, Teresa Branco suggests "outdoor sports activities, such as daily walks of at least half an hour to start losing weight and to help in the production of serotonin and dopamine", the feel-good hormones. - The treatment
Increased appetite can also be caused by "the influence of medication to treat the illness, since some psychiatric medication contains active substances that promote appetite, especially for foods rich in carbohydrates, particularly simple sugars. On the other hand, there are also treatments for depression and anxiety that inhibit appetite, such as fluoxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine." In the physiologist's opinion, the principle should be "to prescribe medication that has the least impact on appetite. There are neutral drugs that neither affect nor reduce appetite. We need to sensitize the clinician accompanying the patient, making them understand that excess weight, if it happens, is an aggravating factor in the depressive state itself."
