Rapid weight gain can be unnerving, particularly if you're conscious and proactive about maintaining a healthy weight. Sudden weight gain has a variety of causes, and effective treatment depends on remedying the specific cause. Lifestyle changes and/or treating the underlying health condition with medication, surgery or other methods may be necessary to combat rapid weight gain.
Water Retention/Edema
Increased fluid retention, as from edema, can cause swelling and rapid weight gain, notes HealthLine. Water retention may result from too much sodium in the diet, nutritional deficiencies of protein or various B vitamins, sunburn, hormone level fluctuations like those associated with pregnancy, PMS, menopause or oral contraceptive prescriptions, and medication side effects, notes Progressive Health.
Edema also results from numerous causes, both minor and serious, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic. Salty foods and hormone imbalances may contribute, as with water retention. Vasodilators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), calcium channel blockers, estrogens and thiazolidinediones for diabetes are all known to present with the symptom of edema. Serious medical conditions can too, including cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure, kidney damage or disease and weakened or damaged leg veins or lymphatic system.
Hormonal Disorders
Some conditions affecting hormone balances cause rapid weight gain, according to Ohio State University. An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is typically associated with weight gain, and the more severe the condition, the more weight is generally gained, states the American Thyroid Association.
Cushing's syndrome is another possible cause of sudden weight gain. The National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service describes this hormonal disorder as rare, and points out that it is usually seen in people age 20 to 50. People with blood glucose regulation problems like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are considered to be at highest risk. Other symptoms of this disease include fatigue, weakness, an increase in thirst and urination, elevated blood pressure and/or blood sugar levels, a hump between the shoulders, and mood disturbances such as anxiety, irritability or depression.
Medications
Besides medications that affect hormone levels or cause edema, others may lead to rapid weight gain. Corticosteroids, lithium, cyproheptadine (found in antihistamines and serotonin regulators), phenothiazines (found in antipsychotics and antihistamines), tranquilizers and some anti-depressants can cause weight gain, according to the National Institutes of Health. Insulin and diabetes medications can also be culprits, says HealthLine.
Lifestyle Causes
Certain lifestyle changes may be a catalyst for rapid weight gain, including increased caloric intake and/or decreased physical activity. Consuming more alcohol can contribute, as can eating more as a result of quitting smoking. Rising stress levels may prompt increased or less healthy eating, and can elevate cortisol levels, which is another cause of weight gain specified by Ohio State University. Sudden weight gain may also be an effect of the aging process, during which the metabolism slows, notes the National Institutes of Health.
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