Typically, if you gain weight it is because you consume more calories than you burn. The simple mathematics of weight gain are that you will gain 1 lb. for every 3,500 calories you consume more than your body needs. However, certain other factors can also contribute to weight gain, although they are generally of a more temporary nature.
Slower Metabolism
If you cut calories in an effort to lose weight, your body has a cruel trick to play on you. When you take in fewer calories, your body's natural response is to slow your metabolism. This is a survival instinct, as the body protects itself from a deficit of food by hoarding whatever calories it can find. With a slower metabolism, you are more likely to gain weight unless you counter the effect by increasing your physical activity, which fights to raise your metabolism.
Reduced Activity
If you reduce your daily physical activity at the same time you reduce your calorie intake, you may still end up gaining weight. In addition to slowing down your metabolism, an inactive lifestyle can greatly reduce the calories you need to maintain your weight. As a result, even eating fewer calories than your body normally requires may not be enough to compensate for your sedentary lifestyle. If you want to lose weight by lowering your calorie intake, you cannot afford to simultaneously reduce your activity level.
Stress
Stress is a powerful factor in your overall health, and too much stress can result in weight gain. An increased stress level can trigger a "fight or flight" response in your body, which results in your body switching to survival mode, with its accompanying slowdown in metabolism and storing of calories as fuel. With your body conditioning itself to survive, it may turn more of the calories you ingest into storage for future use, resulting in weight gain.
Medications
Even if you reduce your calories, some medications alter the body's physiology and can lead to weight gain. Certain antidepressants, oral contraceptives and hormone medications may cause weight gain, although it tends to be gradual. Steroids are a type of drug that typically does result in weight gain.
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