7 Habits That Lead To Weight Gain

• Stress
• Alcohol
• Sleep
• Salt
• Dehydration
• POCS
• Medication

Stress

Everyone responds differently to stress, anxiety and depression. Some people might gain weight due to it while others might lose some. People can often turn to food for emotional support during such times, gaining weight in the process. This might just cause them to get even more depressed, leading to a further gain in weight. If you are an emotional eater, the best way to deal with the problem is to find other ways of distracting yourself. Just ring an old friend, set out for a walk or binge on some TV show you like.
 

Alcohol

Alcohol is extremely high in calories. So while you might just crave for a glass or two, even if not the entire bottle, you will still be adding up on those extra calories, leading to an increase in weight gain. So imbibe with caution.
 

Sleep

Sleep is essential to your beauty and health. Skipping crucial hours of your sleep can lead to stress and weight gain. Lack of sleep messes with your hormones, increasing levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, while decreasing levels of leptin, the satiety hormone. To calm the hunger thus needlessly born, you tend to eat more food than you would regularly consume, ultimately leading you to gain weight.
 

Salt

While we understand that salt is a key ingredient in almost every dish prepared but too much intake of salt can cause an increase in blood pressure and lead to other cardiac problems. The higher your blood pressure gets, the greater is the strain on your circulatory system. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney diseases. The extra sodium intake also increases your water retention, adding at least a few pounds to your weight. This might be temporary and you are advised to drink water to solve it faster.
 

Dehydration

Your body needs water for just about everything. So, the more you drink the better. Staying dehydrated causes your body to hold on to excess water in order to overcompensate for the lack of it before. A few bottles of water everyday will save you from this.
 

POCS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (POCS) is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome isn't well understood yet but may involve a combination of genetic, environmental and other factors. The symptoms of POCS include menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne and obesity. It's related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin. Women with PCOS typically put on weight around their waist. The more insulin your body produces, the more weight you gain.
 

Medication

Medication can vary from person to person according to the illness and some may have compounds that lead to weight gain. It is always recommended that you consult your doctor regarding the side effects of the medicines you might be consuming.