Medical conditions that make you fat

4 medical conditions that make you fat

Anne Wangechi

January 28, 2019 11:27 AM

It's not your fault

Overweight (Black Coffy)

Have you been exercising and eating healthy but still putting on weight? Sometimes it’s really not your fault. You could be having an underlying health condition which is making you put on weight.

Here is some medical condition that could actually make you fat:

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

polycystic ovarian syndrome(Bayer Research Magazine) Pulse Live Kenya

This condition affects how the ovaries function. There is no known cause but it’s believed that it could be caused by hormonal issues. It’s a major cause of concern for women especially because it affects the woman’s ability to conceive. The hormonal imbalance causes weight gain and also makes losing weight difficult.

2. Hypothyroidism

The thyroid glands produce hormones that regulate our metabolism. When they produce too little or too many hormones, it leads to a condition called hypothyroidism. When too little hormones are produced, the metabolism slows down leading to weight gain. A blood test is usually done to confirm if the cause of your weight gain is due to thyroid issues.

3. Depression

Depression (courtesy) ece-auto-gen

Some people react to depression and stress by overeating. They may not even realize that they are eating more than they should which leads to weight gain. This may also happen to people with bipolar disorder because their emotions tend to vary from time to time.

4. Cushing’s syndrome

This condition is caused by high levels of cortisol which is a stress hormone. When the hormone is released in large amounts, it leads to weight gain. Depression, stressing environments and some medications can lead to increased levels of cortisol. Besides weight gain, Cushing’s syndrome also causes acne, muscle weakness, and high blood pressure.