Sudden Weight Gain: 5 Unbelievable Reasons and How to Fix It

Unexpected causes of sudden weight gain include:

Potassium deficiency

Potassium plays a role in balancing sodium and helping the body excrete excess water. In fact, potassium deficiency is quite common, not only affecting cell function but also increasing the balance between sodium and water in the body, causing weight gain due to water retention. To reduce this condition, people need to get enough potassium through foods such as bananas, avocados, and tomatoes, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

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Eat lots of starch

The body stores glycogen in the muscles and liver, and each gram of glycogen is accompanied by several grams of water. Therefore, eating a lot of starch will increase the amount of glycogen in the body, leading to more water retention and unexplained weight gain. To reduce water retention, people should limit white starch, prioritize whole grains, and non-starchy vegetables.

Just lost weight

After losing weight, the body will activate physiological mechanisms to fight against excessive weight loss. This is a natural reaction of the body. Some studies show that more than 50% of the lost weight can be regained within 2 years, after 5 years this rate is up to more than 80%. This is especially true in cases where a harsh weight loss regimen has slowed down the metabolism, making it easier to regain weight.

Eat salty

Salt is rich in sodium. Eating salty foods will take in a lot of sodium. To neutralize this sodium, the body will retain water. This results in temporary weight gain. If you take in 6 grams of salt per day, your body can retain about 0.37 liters of water, equivalent to nearly 0.4 kg.

Additionally, some research suggests that salt affects metabolism, stimulates hormones that control hunger, and promotes fat storage. To avoid this, people should reduce salt intake and avoid processed foods.

Eating unconsciously causes weight gain

Many people don’t realize that they’re taking in extra calories but don’t count them in their daily diet. For example, they might eat a small cake, drink a little coffee with sugar, or have a small piece of candy. All of this adds up to throw off the calorie balance, leading to a calorie surplus and weight gain, according to Healthline .